Wellness is a Way of Life

This newsletter is provided as a wellness resource by RCSD’s School Meals Program.

Over the last decade or so, we’ve put in place a number of changes to make our lunches and breakfasts (in schools that serve breakfast) even more nutritious for our customers. We’ll continue to use the Wellness Newsletter to keep you posted on these changes and much more! 

Click the following link if you want a printable copy of the newsletter: Wellness Newsletter (Printable)

Spin Your Wheels

Biking may be the only activity that combines exercise, fun, and transportation! The exercise part is obvious: even at a leisurely pace, a 150-pound person burns 400 calories in an hour of cycling, and at a faster pace you can double that burn rate! If you’ve ever spent an hour on a bike, especially with family and friends, you know the enjoyment and stress-relief that cycling provides. And for people who can cycle to work or other activities, the transportation savings are tremendous – cycling saves 30 cents or more for every mile you don’t drive. Just remember to always wear bright clothes, closed-toed shoes, and a helmet – and follow the rules of the road! 

The Big Number: 150

A person who commutes 5 miles to and from work 50 times a year by bike saves $150 just on gas and vehicle upkeep. 

Eat Better

Try lots of different fruits, veggies, and whole grains for a healthy diet. You’re bound to find a few you really like. 

Honey

Simple carbohydrates provide a fantastic source of pre-workout energy for any aerobic exercise like biking. If you don’t want a too-full stomach when you start a ride, a slice or two of whole wheat toast spread with honey or a banana dipped in honey does the trick. 

Learn Easier

Getting the wheels turning on your bike is a great way to get them turning in your head, too! Inactive children who begin biking show increased brain activity in the area of the brain associated with complex thinking and decision making. 

Play Harder

No matter how old or young you are, riding a bike is fun. You don’t just ride a bike for exercise – you ride a bike on the boardwalk, or to a friend’s house, or on a cool trail in the woods, or around the neighborhood on a summer evening. And when you enjoy yourself while you exercise, it’s that much easier to play harder! 

Live Healthier

You can’t “live healthier” if you don’t live. Sounds extreme? Well, that’s exactly what wearing a bike helmet boils down to - greatly increasing the odds that you will survive a fall or collision while you’re riding. Deaths among cyclists younger than 20 have decreased 86% over the last 40 years, corresponding precisely to the increased likelihood that young riders will be wearing a helmet.