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Mostly Cloudy Howell Road students learn heart health
Howell Road Elementary School celebrated Healthy Heart Week Feb. 8 through Feb. 12, with presentations from Northwell Health representatives about nutrition, tobacco and general wellness.
“I want you to work on choosing foods that are healthy for you,” said Laura Zelenka-Dufresne, a registered dietician for 26 years, who kicked off the week with a discussion of healthy eating at the school.
Zelenka-Dufresne gave 30-minute talks several times throughout the day on Feb. 8 to different age groups, tailoring the material accordingly. She explained that being a dietician requires a broad understanding of nutrition, and is a six-year educational commitment, not to be confused with certified nutritionists — who require much less rigorous training. Accompanied by Northwell Health intern Briana Karettis, she posed questions to students and read a children’s book about the process of baking pancakes.
She recommended swapping sugary beverages with a healthier alternative, and asked students to offer examples of how they might do so. Several students shot their hands up to voice their suggestions.
“This is a little field trip for me,” Zelenka-Dufresne said of visiting Howell Road, since she’s usually at Northwell Health working with patients with chronic illness.
On Friday, students at Howell Road crawled through an artery constructed to display how the body’s organs are all connected. Parent Teacher Association member Sangeeta Pandit said this shows the students the consequences of poor health choices, and their effects on the human body. She said Healthy Heart Week has become something of a tradition at the school and something that students look forward to.
