Social media campaign aims to energize kids, families to pursue active lifestyle

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Residents and visitors to Tryon will notice a new display at La Bouteille in Tryon when they walk in or window shop.

This display is designed by the Partnership for Children of the Foothills, in conjunction with Suzanne Metcalf, to drum up conversations about healthy eating and living amongst families and their children.

Corresponding with Metcalf’s “5-2-1 or None” social media campaign, the display will be up at La Bouteille through the end of the month before popping up in places around the county throughout the year.

Metcalf is hoping children who are entering kindergarten become healthier by living active lifestyles.

“The message behind this campaign is that children need to get five fruits and vegetables a day, two hours or less of technology and screen time, one hour of play and almost no sugary drinks,” Metcalf said. “That message was created by the WNC Healthy Kids program, which is comprised of CEOs from 17 hospitals in Western North Carolina, as a Western North Carolina message to talk about healthy living. The Partnership for Children of the Foothills is a local nonprofit that has adopted this message and our goal is that children arrive at school healthy and ready for success.”

The Partnership for Children of the Foothills organization has a contract with Metcalf, focusing on the importance of a child’s first 2,000 days of life, and she has been associated with the partnership for more than 10 years. Metcalf currently serves as a board member for the organization’s Polk County area.

A statement by the executive director of the Partnership for Children in Foothills organization was made by Barry Gold regarding their efforts with Metcalf to bring this campaign to fruition on social media.

“Our sponsorship is so pleased to be sponsoring the ‘5-2-1 Almost None’ initiative in Polk County,” Gold said. “A significant part of our mission is to assure children are healthy and ready for success when they enter school. ‘5-2-1’ is helping families of young children grow in their desire for a healthier lifestyle. Our board and staff are excited to be a part of that.”

This campaign comes after Metcalf and the Foothills organization observed changes in the lives of young children entering school.

“We implement services in Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties, and in Polk County we sort of anecdotally noticed that there were a significant number of young children who were overweight,” Metcalf explained. “We pulled together a task force that really tried and started to look at what data we have, and what it says, and came up with a goal of healthy, thriving families in Polk County with an indicator of success that children enter school at a healthy weight.”

Metcalf has started the campaign with a photo contest that runs through July 31. Participants can enter a photo of themselves and their families doing healthy activities to the partnership’s Facebook page with the tag “@PartnershipForChildrenOfTheFoothills.”

The four photos with the most “likes” at the close of the contest will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Polk County Farmers Market.

“I don’t know how successful it’s going to be, but we thought since we had the display (at La Bouteille) that we would take the opportunity to link it with an action,” Metcalf said. “So, we’re doing a photo contest and we’re going to have four winners to the Farmer’s Market and that will be donated by our board.”

Linda Greensfelder, member of the Polk County Fit, Fresh and Friendly wellness coalition, also known as PF3, is also on board with Metcalf’s campaign.

“PF3 is excited to engage with Suzanne to support the 5-2-1 campaign in Polk County,” Greensfelder said. “We are currently looking at including 5-2-1 information on our Polk County Area Walking Paths, Hiking Trails and Playgrounds map, which is available both online and in paper form. We’re happy to explore other ideas.”

Jimmy Hines is the health director of the Rutherford, Polk and McDowell District Health Department. Hines works with the partnership to assess childhood obesity strategies for early childhood and helps Metcalf conduct her campaign.

“Children often model what their family members eat,” Hines said. “They often do not prepare their own food and so their parents have a tremendous responsibility in preparing and serving meals as well as educating their children about healthy eating. It is important to exhibit healthy behaviors from ‘womb to tomb’.”

Hines said he and his department will advocate the campaign in the community and provide information to health patients who come in to visit by encouraging families for service.

The importance of this campaign, according to Metcalf, spawns from the changes she noticed in the diets and lifestyles of children. Based on her research with the partnership, Metcalf provided a list of healthy alternatives to living. Through her campaign and the “5-2-1 Almost None” message it carries, she hopes families will become fit and active.

“Visit a local playground or go for a hike. Play hopscotch, bounce a ball or play tag.  Suggest alternatives to fried foods. Suggest that unhealthy snacks and drinks be removed from places young children spend time and replace them with healthy snacks and lot of water,” Metcalf says. “Shop at the farmers market and local farms and stands. Start a walking group at work. Ask corner stores and gas stations to think about adding healthy options. It’s just as easy to grab an apple than it is a donut.”

by Michael O’Hearn, Intern

ScottLynn Whiteside and Sean Thomas Gaul, both 3, pick blueberries at Green River Farms instead of looking at a screen.