Helping Students Grow Into Healthier Kids

Junk food, sweets and sugary drinks – they’re everywhere. That’s what makes the unhealthy choice the easy choice for kids when it shouldn’t be.

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is proud to support the Kellyn Foundation on its mission to make the healthy choice the easy choice for kids by bringing healthy lifestyle education to Lehigh Valley classrooms through its interactive school district program, Living a Healthy Lifestyle. Through this initiative, Kellyn engages and educates students and their families on healthy lifestyle choices at an age when children are defining their personal lifestyle habits.

“Educating children to become food detectives at an early age while also creating healthy social norms and behavioral nudges within our schools and neighborhoods are critical steps in supporting wellness, longevity and vitality through encouraging healthier lifestyle habits,” says Meagan Grega, MD, Co-founder, and Chief Medical Officer of Kellyn Foundation.  

Through this program, Kellyn healthy lifestyle educators engage each student on a journey for three consecutive years, discussing the connection between good nutrition, physical activity, sleep habits and optimal health. Created specifically for third, fourth and fifth graders, the program focuses on expanding students’ awareness and enjoyment of fresh real food in third grade, decoding the nutritional labeling on packaged goods in fourth grade, and practicing how to make the best choices when eating out in fifth. Students also learn the differences between fresh, healthy, whole food and drinks compared to ultra-processed, less healthy products; and how to make the healthiest choices wherever they are.

“The education students are receiving through this program is invaluable and the information they’re learning can greatly impact their health, both now and for years to come,” says J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Physician-in-Chief of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “We are grateful Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital can support its partner Kellyn, as we work together to achieve our shared mission of caring for the children in our community.”

Kellyn takes its nutritional education outside of the classroom with its “Garden as a Classroom” program. Sponsored by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, this program allows students to get even closer to their food by planting, growing and harvesting produce from their school’s own raised bed garden; creating a learning laboratory for lessons in science, ecology and healthy food. Students also experience the excitement and accomplishment of raising their own produce to enjoy.

The program has a wide-reaching impact on students, families and school district staff members. One of the elementary school teachers involved with the initiative states, "Every year this program gives me the little kick in the rear to model these healthy choices more and more for my students. I have made several changes in my own life based on what I have learned through this program and try to guide my students to do the same.”