4-H teens from across New York attended the State Teen Action Representative Retreat (STARR conference) and participated in a variety of workshops and activities designed to challenge, excite and teach youth about the importance of nutrition and fitness. 4-H Chooses Health Action Teens (“CHATs”), trained through the UnitedHealthcare and 4-H “Eat4-Health” partnership, led a series of 13 interactive stations based on the “Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness” curriculum created in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. The stations included hands-on learning activities such as yoga exercises, sugar-measuring stations and agility tests, among others. Youth also had the opportunity to learn how to make their own healthy smoothies with renewable energy bikes equipped with specially installed pedal-powered blenders.

UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound watches Ethan Jacobsen, of Newburgh, N.Y., Orange County ...

UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound watches Ethan Jacobsen, of Newburgh, N.Y., Orange County, do push-ups. He was participating in interactive stations based on the "Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness" curriculum created in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. Youth also had the opportunity to make their own healthy smoothies with renewable energy bikes equipped with specially installed pedal-powered blenders at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., on Saturday, April 12, 2014. (Photos by Michael J. Okoniewski)

The “Eat4-Health” partnership is funded through a $30,000 grant by UnitedHealthcare to New York 4-H administered through Cornell Cooperative Extension, and delivered in collaboration with the federally-funded nutrition programs SNAP-Ed and EFNEP.

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