Stories of Change

Buckley students enjoy their school's community garden.

How policy, systems, and environmental change can create healthier Michigan communities

By reaching beyond direct nutrition and fitness education, PSE initiatives work to change environments and systems, removing barriers that make choosing that healthy snack and getting that physical activity so difficult.

The Eat Well in a SNAP website.
Easy-to-access website helps Michigan families Eat Well in a SNAP

The Eat Well in a SNAP site aims to connect people with support and inspiration for seasonal meals and recipes, resources, and conversations about food. 

Kids prepare food at The Learning Kitchen.
Kitchen classroom empowers young chefs to pursue healthful choices

The Learning Kitchen is a hands-on cooking and nutrition education program for middle schoolers offered at Kalamazoo Valley Community College through a partnership between KVCC and Bronson Healthcare.

Bay Mills' 2019 "Honoring Our Veterans" powwow.
Rec-Connect program encourages culturally appropriate recreation in Bay Mills Indian Community

Demonstrations of new physical activities are just one way the Rec-Connect program aims to inspire more physical activity as part of healthy living in the community in a culturally-appropriate way.

Students prepare for a food tasting.
MARESA promotes healthy eating and fitness in the rural Upper Peninsula

The Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Services Agency (MARESA) is working with 18 elementary schools in seven counties in the central UP to encourage healthy eating and physical activity. 

An educator leads a Linking Lessons session.
Linking Lessons brings healthy lifestyle basics to Metro Detroit teens

Linking Lessons puts registered dietitians, chefs, and other community health educators in Michigan middle and high schools to teach kids about how to make impactful changes in their diets and physical activity.

Students taste strawberry and spinach salad in a SPLASH/Nutrition program at Hughes Elementary in Marshall.
For Calhoun ISD, community change starts with healthy classroom food tastings

CISD presents a five-week series of nutrition education sessions in Southwest Michigan classrooms to engage students in healthy eating and fitness activities.

Kids fly kites at a sports gear giveaway at the Kinross Recreation Center.
Coalition aims to build a healthier community in UP’s Kinross Township

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and other partners are working to promote physical activity and other healthy choices in the community through the Kinross Building a Healthy Community Coalition.

Kids participate in a Best Food Forward class at Pearl Lean Elementary in Warren.
Working together to improve food security in Warren

As a key part of Gleaners’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education work, funded with grants from Michigan Fitness Foundation, Gleaners works to address the long term systemic problem of hunger.

Ring Lardner Middle School students participate in a March Madness tasting event.
Project LEAN encourages kids to eat healthy through hands-on fun

The Van Buren Intermediate School District's nutrition education programs use fun activities to encourage kids to eat healthy foods and be more physically active.

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