Thomas Co. students get healthy eating lessons

THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - The Thomasville community is coming together to support healthy living habits. Both schools systems, along with Archbold Hospital created a new healthy menu for school lunches.

Students in Thomasville are excited to start living better and eating healthier. Jaden is in first grade and says he likes the new lunch menu served at school. He hopes it helps him grow big and strong. "It helps your muscles and it helps you grow tall," he said.

Special placemats are on every table in the lunchroom to help students organize their food into different food groups.

The city school superintendent says learning about the food groups can help students eat better well-rounded meals. "Sometimes we get in a hurry, we don't feed ourselves well with all of these food groups," said Sabrina Everett, Thomasville Superintendent.

On the menu today-- whole grain sandwiches, fruits and carrots. Each student gets a plate to take home.

Organizers hope that students will practice healthy eating habits at the dinner table as well. "We hope that when they go home, anyone who has a young child knows how persistent they may be. If they get on a good habit they are going to want the whole family to come on board," Everett said.

Leaders from the Archbold Hospital say there is a need for this in the Thomasville community.

Those who have jumped on board hope other businesses will do the same. "We hope that as it continues throughout the year that you will see signs in our grocery stores and restaurants all encouraging members of our community to live better, eat healthier," Everett said.

The Live Better campaign started in July. Community leaders hope it continues for years to come.

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