The OrganWise Guys (OWG) program continues to be a fun and creative way to provide nutrition education. The program that was introduced to all elementary schools in the 2010-2011 school year teaches children how to be healthy and smart from the inside out through the use of fun characters.
• Sid and Kid Kidney Brothers
• Sir Rebrum
• Pepto
• Peri Stolic
• Windy
• Hardy Heart
• Madame Muscle
• Calci M. Bone
• Peter Pancreas
• Luigi Liver
“we love who we live in so please take care of us”
The OWG program also highlights two foods each month. Poster frames with educational material on the Foods of the Month are hung at eye level within the serving lines, giving students the opportunity to learn about the health benefits of each food. In addition to the Foods of the Month posters, an OWG MyPlate poster was added in the 2013-2014 school year. The posters, along with the laminated cards, window clings, and staff buttons help to create a learning laboratory for students as they enter the serving lines.
In addition to the OWG nutrition education that is incorporated into the cafeteria, the School Food Service (SFS) Department continues to promote the program through the department’s website: http://www.palmbeachschools.org/sfs/nutrition-education.asp. The dedicated OrganWise Guys’ webpage provides information on the program. Each month the webpage is updated with new information such as the educational Foods of the Month newsletters, student activity sheets, and a new video.
Schools that are interested in incorporating the OWG program continue to have the opportunity to borrow items from the SFS Department’s “lending library" or submit a request for their own school kit. In addition to the “lending library," the OWG basket is available for SFS managers to utilize for assembly functions and classroom learning. The OWG baskets included a small OWG doll, a music CD, an apron, a set of bookmarks, and a roll of stickers.
In July 2013, the SFS department was very excited to collaborate with the OWG team to do a joint presentation at the School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The presentation focused on the impact that the OWG program could have on the new meal patterns. Permission was received from the OWG company to include the program in the SFS Department's yearly marketing booklet that goes out to every student household in the District.
The newly renovated Galaxy Elementary will be launching their digital displays. The digital displays will not only serve as menu boards, but as another avenue to promote nutrition education. A complete set of OWG videos were purchased to transform lunch time into educational time. The students at Galaxy Elementary will look forward to lunch each day as they learn how to take care of their bodies with these life-long lessons.