As students across the country headed back to school this month for a new academic year, some groups are adding another educational focus for kids: health and wellness.
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will take center stage in an interactive webinar Tuesday, hosted by Discovery Education and GENYOUth, a non-profit organization that aims to fight childhood obesity.
The event, "Feed Your Mind with Exercise and Nutrition," will take place at Central Park East Middle School in New York City's East Harlem, and a livestream of the webinar will be available here on HuffPost Education from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. Teachers can register online to stream the event to their classrooms.
GENYOUth CEO Alexis Glick, students from Central Park East Middle School and others will join Sanchez in a discussion about nutrition and fitness. Topics range from best snack choices to recess activities, and Sanchez will answer student-submitted questions live during the webinar. The football star is also involved with Sam's Club's "Giving Made Simple" campaign, which aims to raise awareness about childhood obesity and prevention.
Tuesday's webinar comes amid a national movement by government officials and schools to instill in students healthy lifestyles and to cut down on the instance of childhood obesity that has sprawled across the country.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering eliminating potatoes and other starchy vegetables from school breakfasts while significantly cutting down on how much of those are served during lunch -- but to the dismay of agricultural producers. States like Massachusetts, California and New Jersey have cut sugary drinks like sodas and chocolate milk from its school menus.
Chicago's longer school days, which start today, will allow for more time to play during recess or in gym class. Even so, tight budgets in areas like South Dakota leave officials with no options but to cut back school time and thus, time in physical education classes.
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