New York Jets tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will honor Thomas A. Edison Central Six Middle School in West Orange, N.J., on Friday afternoon, May 18, for being one of the winning schools in the 2011-2012 Eat Right, Move More contest.* *
The Eat Right, Move More program, a partnership among the Jets, the Department of Agriculture and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council's Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign, encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active.
This year there was an emphasis on selecting the schools that have made changes in their menus to include more fresh fruits and vegetables; a greater variety of vegetables, such as dark green and orange vegetables, and legumes; and more whole grains. Additionally, school lunch and breakfast menus were reviewed and schools had to show strong support and demonstrate efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity among their students. Edison Middle School was one of five winning schools.
As a professional football team that plays in New Jersey, the Jets regularly promote youth health, fitness, and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Ferguson has been the spokesman for the Eat Right, Move More campaign since its inception in 2006.
The Department of Agriculture's school nutrition policy is the most comprehensive in the nation and covers students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The policy limits fat and sugar content in foods offered in a la carte lines, snack bars and vending machines, school stores and as part of on-campus fundraisers.
