Pittsburg Schools Program Challenges Kids To Exercise, Eat Healthy Over Summer Vacation
PITTSBURG (KCBS)— Hundreds of kids enjoying their summer vacation showed up in Pittsburg Friday for an event that promoted exercise and good nutrition and to target childhood obesity.
Children of all ages converged on Buchanan Park in 80-degree weather to mark the start of Pittsburg Unified School District's "Summer Challenge" program.
10-year-old Gabriel Garcia said he likes the carbs.
"I eat pizza and for breakfast I eat cereal," he said. As far as getting his share of fruits in, Garcia said he enjoys mango and kiwi.
Tuline Baykal of Bay Area Power Play said they really want children to remain active over the summer months.
Pittsburg Schools Program Challenges Kids To Exercise, Eat Healthy Over Summer Vacation
"One thing that we found is that children are twice as likely to gain weight over the summer because they tend to be less active, ironically; but also because they don't have opportunity for structured meals and so that's why the summer feeding program is so, so important," Baykal said.
The event also launched the so-called, "Power Up Summer Challenge" in which students are asked to take a pledge to participate in at least one hour of physical activity for eight weeks.
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