Healthy Habits Program
Healthy Habits is a Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF initiative dedicated to helping the children of New Haven achieve healthy lifestyles, with a focus on education and practical application of proper nutrition, physical activity, and a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. Healthy Habits is geared toward school children between the ages of 10 and 14. Healthy Habits was founded in the fall of 2012 to answer a need for such a program in Yale's home city of New Haven. The members of Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF are committed to contributing their time, knowledge, and portions of the Yale UNICEF budget to furthering this organization and its cause. Toward this end, Yale UNICEF has established a discrete committee for the organization and implementation of the Healthy Habits program. This committee meets on a weekly basis and is comprised of a Director and Coordinators for each of the components of the program. Healthy Habits is a not-for-profit organization within Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF, and all financial matters are conducted through the main Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF account.
Components of Healthy Habits
- Nutrition Education and Practical Application
- This component of the program seeks to empower students with knowledge of eating foods that comprise a balanced diet and will lead to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lifestyle. This component is comprised of interactive classroom education and the hands-on assembly of a healthy snack. Materials and ingredients will be provided weekly by Yale UNICEF
- Individually-focused Physical Activity
- This component of the program focuses on teaching students how to live an active lifestyle outside of team or group-centered competitive sports. For example, instructors will lead the participants in motion-intensive games, and will provide tips to increasing overall activity (i.e. taking the stairs, not an elevator; parking the car further from school to encourage more walking).
- Supportive network of Mentors
- As volunteers for the Healthy Habits program, Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF members will provide a supportive and safe environment for the program participants to not only grow in areas of nutrition and health but also as members of their community.
To become involved with organizing or volunteering for the Healthy Habits program, please contact lynnli.wang@yale.edu.