Contests help students get active

Peel Public Health has launched two major contests to encourage more than 17,000 Grade 5 students in Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga to get more active and eat more nutritiously.

"Healthy habits developed at a young age are more likely to carry into adulthood," said Dr. David Mowat, medical officer of health for the Region of Peel. "The High5Crew project is part of a program that aims to reduce risk factors for childhood obesity."

The contests called High5Crew Invent-a-Sport and Invent-a-Recipe are open to all Grade 5 students in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. The winner of each contest will receive a $1,000 shopping spree at Sport Chek. Contest details and rules can be found at High5Crew.ca, an innovative Web site for kids designed exclusively for this project. Contest closes May 11.

"We are capitalizing on technology that tweens (9-14- year-olds) are already using to influence their eating habits and activity patterns in a positive way," continues Mowat.

In addition to the two major contests, the Web site promotes physical activity through a pedometer challenge. Kids who record 250,000 steps can enter to win great prizes. Pedometers were distributed to all Grade 5 students in Peel through their schools.

Visit High5Crew.ca or by calling the Region of Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.