Healthy children, healthy future

“The new fear is that the next generation will not outlive us.”

That’s the thought that’s driving Toni Leo and Christy Swaid of HEAL Alabama to expand their program into even more elementary schools — and develop a new program for middle- and high-school students.

HEAL — which stands for Healthy Eating Active Living — has been aimed at teaching good disease prevention habits to kids in about 100 Alabama elementary schools through physical education programs.

About 100 more are on a waiting list, Swaid said, who is the founder and CEO of the Vestavia Hills-based organization.

Swaid considers this program to be vital information, the bedrock of HEAL, and so she’s working hard to accomplish those expansions.

But there’s still more to be done than getting the curriculum into more elementary schools, she said.

“We kept talking with alumni of our program, and they said they wished they had been able to continue the program past elementary school, because they found themselves slipping back into bad habits in middle school and high school,” she said.

So, Swaid said HEAL Alabama is ready to meet that need.

“We are super excited that we are now beginning the HEAL hybrid middle school component,” she said.

It’s in the beginning stages, said Leo, who is serving as team leader for the new hybrid program.

“We have three schools using the new material, and we’re experimenting to see how it’s effective, how we can hone it to make it a better experience for students,” Leo said.

The three schools — Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia, Montevallo Middle School in Shelby County and Lupton Junior High School in Walker County — provide a variety of geographical and cultural differences, she said.

“We will watch how the students respond to the material, then develop a pilot program for several more schools the next year,” Leo said. “Then the third year, hopefully we can roll it out to more schools.”

Meredith Hanson, principal of Pizitz Middle School, said she’s excited for her school to participate in the experimental program this year.

“With anything, when we’re looking out for the best for our children, a healthy lifestyle is of utmost importance,” Hanson said. “The HEAL program is something that brings in truly lifelong learners. Football is something they can’t play forever, baseball is something they can’t play forever, but HEAL shows them things they can do for a lifetime to stay healthy and in shape.”

And Swaid said she hopes they can dovetail it into a high-school program.

“Our intention at the high-school level would be more career-oriented,” she said. “A foundation of good health is a springboard to success in every area of life, whatever your vocation may be, from the National Guard to motherhood. We want to help young adults realize how important it is to invest the time and resources in preventing disease and laying a healthy foundation.”

That’s why HEAL Alabama starts children young, she said. 

“These days, 10-year-olds are already showing a prevalence of early disease,” Swaid said. “Our main mission is to rescue these children from the path of disease and put them on a path of health and wellness.”

And through the new hybrid program, Swaid said HEAL Alabama hopes to show them the relevance of making healthy choices as they grow older.

“And we’re looking forward to following them as they progress and grow into adulthood,” she said.

For more information about HEAL Alabama, go to healalabama.org.