From press reports

Third-graders in schools across the state, including Choctaw County, will receive fun flying discs, along with a valuable nutrition lesson, in observance of National Eat-5-a-Day Month in September.

Representatives from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education and Family Nutrition programs with Mississippi State University's Extension Service will hand out almost 32,000 of the popular plastic throwing disc toys on Sept. 30. On the discs is the 5-a-Day Program logo. Patty Draper, Extension County Director with a focus area of nutrition and food safety, and Dee Ann Williams, Family Nutrition Program Program Assistant, will distribute these items to the third grade students in all three Choctaw County Elementary Schools.

"This campaign goes hand-in-hand with the nutrition education we provide to area schools," said Mrs. Draper.

Local county Extension office personnel will deliver the flying discs throughout the day as part of this state-wide campaign to promote making healthy eating choices, as well as staying physically active.

The Family Nutrition Program at MSU is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Mississippi Department of Human Services as part of the nutrition education component of the food stamp program. The goal is to provide key information to participants in food assistance programs. This program has been in Choctaw County for two years with Patty Draper serving as the contact person and educator. Dee Ann Williams began working with the program in mid-August and will start working in the classrooms in October providing nutrition education to the students.

"One major way we reach our audience is through schools that have a large participation in the National School Lunch Program," Brent Fountain, state coordinator, stated. "The special Extension nutrition programs are in 70 counties throughout the state, providing nutrition education in the school systems."

The National 5-a-Day for Better Health Program is jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a nonprofit consumer education foundation representing the vegetable and fruit industries.

The National Cancer Institute funds behavior change and communications research to determine strategies that are effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

The program started in 1991 and has proven to be one of the nation's most widely recognized health promotion programs.

For more information about the Extension Service 5-a-Day campaign, contact the Choctaw County Extension Service office at 662-285-6337.