Students help HEAL over weekend

Around 20 students from Pizitz Middle School helped bring healthier food options to Vestavia Hills.

The students were participating in a HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) initiative as a part of Helping Hands in the Hills on Saturday, Sept. 12. As a part of the area community service day, students marked healthy meal options at local restaurant Sol Azteca.

Before placing “HEAL approved” stickers on menu items, the students participated in an discussion about healthy eating. HEAL founder Christy Swaid said students learned about lean protein, lean dairy and proper serving sizes. She also said students were able to answer many health-related questions.

“It was a quality education that won’t only help them at this young age, but also help people of every age,” Swaid said.

The goal of HEAL is to educate students and get them excited about healthier eating, Swaid said. It is geared toward students in second through fifth grade so that they can learn healthy habits before puberty.

“We want to get them on a healthy path before those negative consequences begin to surface,” she said.

One way to encourage students actively taking part in healthy activities, Swaid said, is by showing strong family and community support. Swaid said involving students in the process through activities like placing stickers on menus helps empower them. She said she hopes students will also learn to communicate what they know about healthy food with their family.

“The goal is just to help make it easier for families to make healthier choices when eating out,” Swaid said.

Overall, Swaid said she was happy to see the community came together during Helping Hands on the Hills.

“As a resident of Vestavia, I am very proud about how the entire community cares, and it shows in the collaborative demonstration of helping one another get healthy,” she said.