Principals' Fitness Challenge 6 Winner

Congratulations to principal Elizabeth Hostin and her staff from Martha Reid Elementary for winning the sixth challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 6 was entitled, Portion Distortion. Hostin and her staff have become proficient in reading food labels, sharing healthy home-cooked meals, and bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to school. Plus, increased exercise and group encouragement helped lead them to first place.

From the challenge: Restaurant portions are nearly twice the size they were a few decades ago. Some restaurants provide enough food for at least two meals at once. This is a problem because research suggests that people will eat more when more food is in front of them. Large portions have been blamed for the increase in obesity in the United States. The key to reaching or maintaining a healthy weight is portion control.

Portion distortion — Seek out quality over quantity. Taste and savor every bite!

1. When eating out, box up half of your meal before you begin eating
2. When eating at home, read your labels to see what a single portion should be and eat only that amount
3. When eating at home, use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate

Elizabeth Hostin and her staff also won Challenge #2. Congratulations Martha Reid Elementary.