"I learned how to eat healthy," said 11-year-old Cedrick Edwards. Cedrick was among 70 fifth-graders from the Wynnton Academy who spent Tuesday at Wynnton United Methodist Church learning about nutrition and exercise.
This was the third year for the Junior League of Columbus' Kids in the Kitchen program, which is part of an international project from Junior Leagues International Inc., to educate children on how to eat well and exercise.
When Cedrick first saw round pita bread, he said, "What is this thing?"
But after loading it with marinara sauce and cheese and putting it in the oven to make pita pizza, he learned that it was good.
League member Amy Bontrager said the Kids in the Kitchen program is a good opportunity to introduce children to different types of nutritious foods. "It's good to have them try something new," she said.
Ke'Erikah Ross, 11, tasted pita pizza for the first time and agreed that it was good.
Besides the pita pizza, the children made a turkey wrap using a flour tortilla, sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato and shredded cheese. For dessert, a fruit parfait was made.
"I liked the fruit cup," said Sharniece Davis, 10. Bontrager gently reminded Sharniece that it was a fruit parfait (strawberries and blueberries with whipped cream).
The league members prepped the ingredients for each dish and helped the children, who were in groups of eight or 10 at a table, make the pizza, wrap and parfait.
"I learned about eating different types of food," said Anju Shajan, 10. She liked the pizza the best and said she'll make it at home.
Anju said she'll share her new recipes with her two older siblings.
After their nutritious snacks, the kids watched the Just Say No Gang, a puppet show performed by Junior League members, which explained the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Then it was time to exercise. Under the watchful eyes of Junior League members, the kids danced, did yoga and simple calisthenics and played a form of soccer -- sitting down.
Alex Benny, 10, who had just finished yoga, said he'd tried it before.
"It was kind of easy," he said. To see more of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ledger-enquirer.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.