Commit to Be Fit Newsletter

4 November 2022/ Issue No. 225

On Thursday, November 3rd, Commit to Be Fit presented at the inaugural National Conference on Child Health and Well-being hosted by Action for Healthy Kids in Chicago. During their presentation, Creating a Culture of Wellness for All in Rural Communities, the team shared ideas and various aspects of the C2BF program with fellow wellness warriors from across the country. Throughout the conference, the team gathered several wonderful, inspiring wellness promotion ideas to bring back to Rappahannock!

This week, our Fresh Food Fiesta cooking series was offered to 1st grade students. The young chefs enjoyed preparing and eating mini pizzas!

Jermey set up an elaborate rock n roll themed trunk for the RCES Trunk or Treating event on Friday, Oct. 28th. The students got a kick out of seeing their ABL teacher dressed as a rock star! Later that night, C2BF participated in the PTO's Enchanted Halloween Evening. The rock star, along with an 80's pop star, led a witch's hat ring toss and a cake walk- themed game for the young attendees.

The POP (Power of Produce) Bucks program wrapped up another successful season at the Rappahannock Farmers Market on Saturday, October 29th. The program, which is generously funded by the PATH Foundation, provides local produce, bread, and protein for RCPS students. We would like to extend a huge thank you to PATH as well as the participating farmers: Wholehearted Health Foods, LLC, The Farm at Sunnyside, Jackalope Ridge Microfarm and Bakehouse, Bean Hollow Grassfed, and Gardens of Khmet. Additionally, we would like to thank our POP Bucks Farmers Market Bags Distributor, Lilyan Jenkins (shown above with flowers from Gardens of Khmet), as well as Lee Bernstein, Katie Sharp, and Cecilia Lopiano, for helping throughout the season.

Cayden, an RCES 5th grade student, made an Asian Pear and Apple crisp and dried fruit rings using apples and pears from the POP Bucks Market Bags. Additionally peppers and greens were used in salads and beef was used for tacos. Awesome job, Cayden! We love hearing how the food is used and enjoyed!

The NOVEMBER CALENDAR is now available. CLICK HERE to view.

As a friendly reminder, classes will not be held on early release days or when school is not in session for students. Be sure to join our Facebook GROUP (search Commit to Be Fit) or sign-up for our newsletters at the bottom of our website homepage (www.rappc2bf.com) to receive class updates and/or cancellations.

Location information is available on our website www.rappc2bf.com/activities

Have additional questions? Email Holly at hjenkins@rappahannockschools.us

Our Turkey Trot is returning this year in it's highly popular virtual format. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Recently, C2BF invited all staff members to participate in a weekly free salad drawing. This week's winners are Stephanie Cash (high school) and Barbara MacDonald (elementary). C2BF will be delivering your free salad coupons shortly. RCPS Staff- if you haven't entered yet, be sure to visit the teacher's lounge and drop your name in the "hat" for a weekly drawing.

Do you have a passion for wellness and student/staff success? RCPS is hiring a Wellness Integration Specialist to join our Commit to Be Fit Team.

For more information, visit https://rappahannockschools.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=56

Does anyone else besides me have a problem with binge eating at night? Let me tell you, hardly anything is better than having a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch right before bed. Yes, a whole box, guilty as charged. Then, after all the sugar, comes the salty cravings. Before you know it, I’m going back and forth between sweet and salty. Sometimes having the willpower to set the snacks down is not quite enough. A simple little trick that helps me end a binge session is to go brush my teeth and use a strong mouthwash. Maybe it’s the fact that food just doesn’t taste the same afterwards or I don’t want to ruin that clean feeling, but it works for me. One or two times binging may not make much difference, but consistently over time the pounds will sneak up. So next time you’re struggling to set the nibbles down, try grabbing a toothbrush and toothpaste.

"Do one thing every day that scares you." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Ever hear of the saying that "there is no growth in the comfort zone?" The truth is that many of us don't want to test our limits because we are afraid of failure or perhaps we don't believe we are good enough. However, when you do something that scares you, it helps to build your self-confidence. The more uncomfortable things that you tackle, the easier it will be to face your fears. Ultimately, by stepping out of your comfort zone, you will increase your self-efficacy and expand your perspective about the world around you. There are many experiences to be had, people to meet, and memories to be made!

Ready or not, the holiday season is coming! Don’t let the holiday season derail your wellness goals. Here are some holiday-proof tips to keep you on track:

· Drink plenty of water

· Get adequate sleep

· Limit indulging to special days

· Avoid skipping meals to avoid overeating at the next meal

· Have healthy snacks on hand

· Boost your immune system by eating a rainbow of fruit and veggies

· Dedicate time for daily workouts (sign up for the C2BF Turkey Trot!)

· Recharge by taking time to relax and do something that brings you joy!

This week's recipe from Inspired Taste features November's Harvest of the Month, Cabbage!

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE