Healthy Town blog: Project embraced by educators in Athlone

The Healthy Town project has been embraced by educators in Athlone, who are keen to encourage students to engage in healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.

There is something for everyone in the programme, ranging from fitness classes, organised runs and health checks to talks on specific themes every week. Primary and secondary schools in the town, along with Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT), are keen to promote it, in the hope that it will spark a more long-term focus on good habits.

A primary school just outside the town is leading the way with its efforts. Ardnagrath National School promotes healthy lifestyle throughout the year and took the opportunity to further highlight it, for the eight-week Healthy Town project.

The 120-pupil school focuses on combining academic work with healthy living. Many of the activities that students take part in are linked in to the curriculum.

The school has a healthy farm and garden and much of the work in maintaining both is done by the students, even at weekends and during holidays, such is their interest in the project.

There is also a strong focus on healthy eating and exercise and there is a gym at the school. The students are in the latter stages of writing a book focused on healthy living and they hope others will adopt a similar approach.

The book includes a range of recipes based on the theme of healthy eating by children for children and also a focus on natural remedies.

School principal Amelia Keena said: “It’s a hands on approach, a focus on experiential learning. Our whole model here is a holistic approach; body, mind and spirit. The academics are looked after but so many children have lots of other skills as well and we try toidentify those skills and bring them through.

“Life isn’t within the four walls of the school,” she said. “It’s important to make it meaningful.”

At second level, Athlone Community College has decided to take fizzy drinks and confectionary off the shelves in the canteen.

Like Ardnagrath, the efforts to promote healthy living at the Athlone Community College are long-term, with the Healthy Town project an ideal starting point. There are 1,050 students in the school.

There has been a focus on increasing fibre in the diet, drinking more water and encouraging staff and students to walk during breaks.

The co-ordinator of the project Fiona Fallon said: “You can’t build Rome in a day so we were trying to come up with something that is workable. At the launch of Healthy Town, Dessie Dolan (the project’s ambassador) was saying that one small change is important and we took that on board.”

She said that students are being advised to still enjoy their treats, but to limit them. “A little of what you fancy can make a difference,” said Ms Fallon. “It is a long-term thing.”

And in AIT, staff and students are focusing on a holistic approach to health.

A number of specific projects are taking place at AIT. One is an initiative where 10 second year students taking the hotel and leisure management programme are undertaking a 5K challenge. They train three times a week - once under the direction of a coach and twice self-directed - and keep a diary throughout. At the end of the six-week programme, they will complete a 5K. Many of the students were new to running before they took on the challenge.

Healthy campus co-ordinator Anne Cooney said: “There is a strong focus on healthy activities on the campus.

“We don’t have a bar in the college for the first time and we are the first third-level institute to go tobacco-free. This all ties in with Healthy Town.

“The idea was that Healthy Town shouldn’t focus on just exercise only. It’s about the holistic model of health,” she said.