WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) Schools’ Healthy Lifestyles Program received top recognition in the 2024 Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Food for Thought competition.
According to the VSBA, the Food for Thought competition is a friendly competition between Virginia school districts showcasing programs that fight childhood hunger, provide healthy school meals and encourage health and physical activity.
Our department’s School Health Initiative Program (SHIP) won a top award among several categories at the recent VSBA Education Conference in Richmond.
WJCC School Committee members Kimberley Hundley and Randy Riffle accepted the award on behalf of WJCC Schools.
The WJCC Schools SHIP program worked with the division’s Special Education Department (SPED) to create the “Very Healthy Living Skills Cooking Program” to help students with disabilities learn about healthy eating, which was commended in the competition’s Health and Physical Activity category.
According to the department, the “Special Health Program” provides a hands-on learning environment where students with disabilities can actively participate in culinary activities focused on health and wellness.
According to WJCC School, through these activities, students gain culinary knowledge, skills and confidence in their culinary abilities. Students learn how to make a shopping list, create a recipe, measure ingredients, use knives, operate appliances and handle food safely and clean up.
According to the WJCC School, the culinary experience familiarizes students with eating healthy dishes rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, broadening their palates and fostering a love of healthy food.
The program empowers students to understand a balanced diet, make healthy choices and use their new skills to prepare fresh food for themselves, adding that in an environment where students are eating three meals a day, seven days a week, making healthy food choices may be one of the skills they use most often.
