PHOTOS & VIDEO: The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New York Jets honored the Oak Street School this afternoon with a visit from Jets Fullback/Tight End Josh Baker, for being one of the winning schools in the 2010-2011 Eat Right, Move More contest. 

“I’m excited to be here today to help honor the achievements of Oak Street School,” said Jets FB/TE Josh Baker. “Whether you are a professional athlete or a student, healthy eating and fitness are important to success and I am impressed with the efforts of Oak Street School.”

Oak Street School has a salad bar for students and offers more whole grains, low fat and skim milk and green vegetables in its lunch program.  The school holds monthly nutrition promotions and promotes healthy eating with visits from Lift-Off, their food management company, Sodexo’s, mascot.  

“Since adding beans to the salad bar, we notice children topping off their salads with them,” said school principal, Laura Winters. “The children are excited to try a variety of foods and new items, which we see in their choices of fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The Eat Right, Move More program, a partnership between the Jets, the Department of Agriculture and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign, encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active. The winning schools were chosen that best met the criteria established for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Healthier U.S. School Challenge Program. 

Additionally, school lunch and breakfast menus were reviewed and the schools had to show strong support and demonstrate efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity among their students.

The Eat Right Move More program calls attention to the importance of eating nutritious foods and increasing activity whether you are a professional football player or a student,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H Fisher. We commend Oak Street School for making a commitment to serving creative and healthy food in their school cafeteria and encouraging students to exercise more.”

As a professional football team that plays in New Jersey, the Jets regularly promote youth health, fitness, and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. 

Offensive Tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson has been the spokesman for the Eat Right, Move More campaign since its inception in 2006.

“Eating healthy meals helps me play my best,” says Ferguson. “Your school cafeteria has a variety of nutritious foods to keep you going all day, so let’s get up and Eat Right and Move More.”

The Department of Agriculture’s school nutrition policy covers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The policy limits fat and sugar content in foods offered in a la carte lines, snack bars and vending machines, school stores and as part of on-campus fundraisers.

At the event today, approximately 100 students dressed in green shirts in honor of the Jets heard as Baker spoke about his daily routines, meals and exercising.

Following his short speech, the children enjoyed a trivia game where the children with the correct answers won either an autographed football, a Jets cap or NFL book.

The event was attended by the School Superintendent Ms. Lydia Silva as well as other school officials. TLS.