Paige Pavliscak is on a personal mission to encourage students at her school to make healthy choices when it comes to the foods they eat.
‘I’m trying to help kids feel better about themselves,? said the Lakeville Elementary fourth-grader and student council member.
During her years at Lakeville, Pavliscak said she’s noticed ‘a lot of kids have been buying junk food? from the school’s three vending machines.
‘They’re like addicted to it,? she said.
Pavliscak also observed how the number of overweight students, or ‘chubby? as she put it, seems to be on the rise.
She decided to take action.
Back in October, Pavliscak wrote Principal Kristy Gibson-Marshall a letter requesting the school’s vending machines start selling healthier snacks and beverages.
‘The products in the vending machines right now are full of sugar and calories that are unhealthy for children and adults,? she wrote. ‘I want the people at Lakeville Elementary, including myself, not to have to regret the choices they made as kids when they end up as overweight adults.?
‘As a health teacher, I loved it,? said Gibson-Marshall, referring to Pavliscak’s letter. ‘I was excited to see someone at such a young age thinking about that.?
Instead of the usual soda pop, chips and candy, Pavliscak told the principal she would like the vending machines to carry fruits, vegetables, yogurt, white milk, granola bars, pretzels, healthy cereals and anything else that’s ‘low in fat and low in calories.?
‘If the vending machines only contained healthy products, (students) would always make a good choice,? she wrote.
Pavliscak will get the opportunity to pitch her ideas when Karen Bissett, director of food services for the school district, meets with Lakeville’s student council April 24.
Bissett will be there to answer questions, discuss how the school’s breakfast and lunch programs currently meets state nutritional requirements and get ideas for next year with regard to providing students healthy food options.
Gibson-Marshall noted the three vending machines ? two that sell beverages and one with snacks ? are not available to students during school hours.
‘They’re not allowed to be used during the school day at all ? only before and after,? she explained.
Pavliscak definitely practices what she preaches.
The only thing she gets from the vending machines is bottled water. When she wants a snack, she brings celery, apples, bananas, crackers, granola bars or apple sauce from home. But it wasn’t always that way.
Pavliscak said she ‘used to be one of those kids? who enjoyed snacking on junk food until she decided last year to change her eating habits and start getting more exercise.
Tired of feeling bad about herself whenever she was around skinny kids or went shopping for new clothes only to discover most are made for thinner children, Pavliscak approached her parents about changing her lifestyle.
‘She said, ‘I don’t want to feel this way anymore. I need your help,?? said mother Kristin Pavliscak.
Since then, Pavliscak has lost between five and 10 pounds. In addition to feeling better about herself, she has more energy and pep.
Now, she wants to help her fellow Lakeville students. ‘I just don’t want other people to feel how I felt,? she said.
‘She wants to help other kids make good choices because they can’t always do it themselves,? said Pavliscak’s mom. ‘She’s pretty mature for her age.?