Jumping for fun and health
Molly Shore
Students at William McKinley Elementary School witnessed an unusual
sight Friday -- state Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Burbank) jumping
rope on the playground.
Frommer joined more than 400 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in
National Nutrition Month’s Jump for Health promoting healthy eating
and exercise.
Frommer said it is important to teach children the value of good
nutrition so they can avoid health-related diseases later in life.
“We all love junk food. I love my In-N-Out Burger,” Frommer said.
“But eating this kind of food every day is not healthy, and we need
to teach [children] better eating habits.”
Los Angeles Sparks basketball player Latasha Byears, California
Youth Karate Club founder Hugo Rojas and “American Gladiators’” Lee
Reherman also came to the event.
“It’s important to get out here and show the kids that a sound
body helps with a sound mind,” Reherman said.
Marvin Espinoza, project coordinator of Children’s Five a Day
Power Play, encouraged children to eat five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily.
“Children are told to paint their plate with different fruits and
vegetables because every color helps their bodies in different ways,”
Espinoza said.
Blueberries, eggplant and plums lower the blood pressure, orange
and yellow fruits and vegetables are good for skin and nails, white
vegetables such as onions and garlic lower cholesterol, and green
vegetables help bodies build antioxidants, which are important in
fighting certain types of cancer and other diseases, Espinoza said.
Fourth-grader Susana Rubio said she likes many fruits and
vegetables and most of the time has at least five servings of them
daily. Her friend Nelli Gevorgyan said she gets enough exercise, but
admitted she needs to work on her nutrition. Nelli’s favorite food is
a hamburger.
Event sponsors included the California Dietetic Assn., the
American Cancer Society and Espinoza’s group.