Kunsberg School Efforts in Nutrition and Exercise to be Recognized at White House Celebration

The Kunsberg School, on the campus of National JewishHealth, will be honored October 17 at a White House reception with Michelle Obama for creating an environment that helps children learn about healthy food choices and being physically active. Kunsberg has been selected by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a winner of its Gold Award of Distinction, the highest honor for this program, and will participate in a Healthier US School Challenge Celebration at the White House.

Kunsberg is one of only two Colorado schools to be recognized.  B.F. Kitchen Elementary School in Loveland is the other.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said John Reid, Principal of Kunsberg. “This is recognition of the dedication of our staff and National Jewish Health to promote and achieve a healthy lifestyle for our students.”

First Lady Michelle Obama will host representatives from the winning schools for areception on the White House grounds. The Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. In 2010, Obama introduced Let’s Move!, incorporating the Healthier US SchoolChallenge into her campaign to raise a healthier generation of kids.

The Healthier US School Challenge encourages schools to promote a healthy school environment that provides nutritious meals, while also providing nutrition education, physical education and opportunities for physical activity.

At a later datethe USDA will hold a ceremony at Kunsberg for the students and staff.

The Kunsbergschool is a free day school for up to 90 chronically ill, at risk students in kindergarten through eighth grade from the Denver metro area and is the only school of its kind on a medical campus in thecountry.

“Health, nutrition, 40 minutes per day of physical education and academic achievementare priorities at Kunsberg, and the school has made a conscious effort to make positive changes that carry over into each child’s lifestyle,” said Reid.

A National JewishHealth dietician plans all meals for Kunsberg children and the meals are prepared to very rigorous standards in the National Jewish Health kitchen. Eachday children are offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch free of charge. Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered daily along with low fat and nonfat milk.