Disney Magic of Healthy Living Arrives at Epcot
Happily ever after is the real magic behind good nutrition and exercise – in other words, it's all about experiencing a longer, happier, healthier life. But for 50 creative (and very lucky) kids, putting pen to paper provided just the right dose of "Abracadabra!" when their imaginative essays won them a dream weekend at Walt Disney World Resort.After the "Magic of Healthy Living" contest was announced last fall, thousands of eight to 14 year olds across the country entered with hopes of hangin' at the Park with their favorite Disney Channel idols. Thanks to their eloquently expressed ideas about healthy lifestyles at home, school, and in their communities, the winners will do just that. From March 18 to 21, Walt Disney World Resort will host the first-ever Magic of Healthy Living: The Weekend – an inaugural experience taking place at Epcot's World Showcase to celebrate the spirit of living well.
Kids were asked to "reach for the sky" and write about new ways to add nutritious foods into their diets (particularly fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy), make 60 minutes of daily exercise easy, share information on healthy choices, and schedule rewarding family activities – like planting fruit and veggie gardens. Submissions were judged by a distinguished panel of health and wellness luminaries on how much fun the concepts were, originality, and their ability to motivate others.
Some of the prizewinning stories described earning rewards for "healthy" happy meals, uniting families by playing ball ("Have a Ball"), and showing solidarity via a cross-country Mickey "relay race," where symbolic items are passed from state to state throughout the U.S. One of the more heartfelt essays was from a boy named Colton, who'd been a notoriously picky eater until his grandmother taught him to cook. Now he welcomes any opportunity to try new foods, which is a great way to maintain a balanced diet. New is good – and as these kids will soon find out, good for you.Introducing healthy cuisines from around the world is an important part of the two-day itinerary, with cooking demonstrations by Walt Disney World chefs. Food-related activities include "Pass-the-Plate," a mealtime event that teaches kids and parents how to prepare healthy lunches rather than rely on fast food when time is tight.
Participants will enjoy an immersive schedule of games and entertainment inspired by various cultures – from tai chi (Japan) and belly dancing (Morocco) to the culturally diverse "Play Your Way" challenge. "Play Your Way" teams will test their skills at [sepak] takraw, a popular Thai sport that's similar to volleyball but played with a rattan ball, as well as games from South America, the Dominican Republic, and other countries.
Speaking of games, Disney Channel stars Alyson Stoner, Daniel Curtis Lee, Jennifer Stone, Kenton Duty, and Caroline Sunshine will be on hand to coach the kids through the "Bouncing-Around-the-World Try-Athlon," an adventure at the World Showcase where teams follow clues, encounter obstacles, and creatively solve their "mission."While the Weekend Event's going strong, attendees might consider taking in Epcot's annual International Flower & Garden Festival, which beautifully illustrates another facet of healthy living – gardening. Unleashing your inner gardener provides benefits beyond growing nutritious foods – it connects people to nature while they explore sustainability. Eleven-year-old gardening guru Katie Stagliano will encourage kids to get serious about seedlings by discussing which fruit, vegetable, and herb plants grow well in windowsill gardens, urban gardens, and gardens of the future ... backyards optional!
Sounds like the winners are in for quite a workout – fittingly enough, since staying active is one of the keys to living well. The Weekend Event is a natural extension of the Disney "Magic of Healthy Living" initiative, which was launched to help kids and families discover fun and easy ways to focus on fitness, health, and nutrition. Even First Lady Michelle Obama is on board. Mrs. Obama agreed to appear in a year-long series of public service announcements with Disney Channel's hottest stars after learning that the program's fundamental themes were aligned with the goals of her "Let's Move!" campaign to provide healthy choices for future generations.
Even though this year's winners have been selected, it's never too soon to get a jump-start on your 2011 entry, which will be open to essay, video, and multimedia submissions from kids, families, schools, and communities alike. So conjure up some cool ideas and discover the true magic of healthy living!
