UNE Coastal Community Coalition's school fitness grants focus of Kennebunk news story

The Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Post on Jan. 17, 2010 ran a story on Kennebunk Elementary School's health and fitness program that was made possible by two grants from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine's Coastal Community Coalition. 

The Coalition's 5-2-1-0 Community and School mini-grants were awarded to 11 schools throughout southern Maine and promote physical activity and healthy eating among students. The grants focus on the principles of 5-2-1-0 Goes to School, a program of the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, said physical education teacher Diane Dyer.

The program teaches children the importance of maintaining a balanced diet; 5-2-1-0 is a simple guide children can follow by eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day; limiting TV and computer use (not related to school) to two hours or less a day; getting one hour or more of physical activity every day; and drinking water or low fat milk instead of soda and drinks with sugar.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.