Thanks to a group of Nicholls nursing students, Joni Boudreaux’s kindergarten class at Larose Lower Elementary School is adopting healthier eating habits. The group, consisting of Marcie Guidry, Myra Vizier, Janet Bergeron, Jamie Lunsford and Amanda Eymard, are all seniors currently enrolled in Community Health Nursing, where they are assigned community projects.

They opted to focus on their community of Larose due to the high percentage of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and hyper tension in the area.

According to the Lafourche Parish Health Profile, 300,000 deaths occur each year in the United States as the result of inactivity and poor diet. In the local region, 43% of all adults are considered obese, in comparison with 34% statewide and 31% in the United States.

One of the ideals of Community Health Nursing is prevention. Boudreaux’s class was chosen to make an impact on the children at a young age and prevent the health risks that lead to obesity.

“We made an impact on the children that will follow them into the future,” Bergeron said.

The programs were presented February 15 and March 2. The children were taught the food guide pyramid, the different food groups and healthy food choices.

Eymard said the group really tried to change the children’s attitude concerning healthy food.

“Before, the children’s idea of healthy snacks were Fudge-Rounds and Snickers bars. After the project they named bananas, carrots and apples,” she said.

Eymard said the results of educating the children on the food guide pyramid and the food groups were recognizable as well.

“Before, no one could identify a food guide pyramid. After, 94% of the students could name a food out of each food group correctly,” she said.

Other activities included the children constructing healthy meals with cardboard versions of various foods.

The students were very receptive to the subject matter.

“The children were a joy to work with. I was amazed by how much they retained. They were like little sponges waiting for knowledge,” Guidry said.

Afterwards, handouts were sent home to inform parents on the subject, along with coloring sheets for the children.

The nursing students said they appreciate their teacher Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux for providing them with the opportunity to implement these programs.

“We value her encouragement and leadership and thank her for providing us with this project,” Guidry said.