Minnesota's Fitness Fever Program Receives National Award From Better Health Foundation

    ST. PAUL, Minn., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fitness Fever program that
 caused an epidemic of fun with food and fitness in schools across Minnesota in
 February received a Diamond Crystal Award from the Produce for Better Health
 Foundation, April 28 at the foundation's annual spring board meeting in
 California.
     Fitness Fever received one of nine national excellence awards -- and the
 only one given to a Minnesota organization -- for efforts promoting the 5 A
 Day message.  Fitness Fever was recognized as an outstanding community
 initiative for its 5 A Day education efforts in schools, work sites and
 communities.
     In its sixth year, Fitness Fever has become the largest school-based
 health promotion in the state with more than 275,0000 students participating
 in 758 elementary schools.  The month-long program provides resources for
 teachers, parents and students that teach children to take responsibility for
 their health with fun ways to eat right and stay active.  Fitness Fever is
 offered to schools through a partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
 Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of
 Children, Families & Learning and the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. The
 nutrition component is based on the 5 A Day concept encouraging people to eat
 five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
     Fitness Fever is receiving increasing attention as a national model for
 developing healthy behaviors in children and families.  The program has been
 featured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National
 Coordinating Committee on School Health, and the Pediatric Academic Societies
 of America.
     The 5 A Day for Better Health program is a national nutrition education
 initiative co-sponsored by the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the
 National Cancer Institute.  Its mission is to increase consumption of fruits
 and vegetables to an average of five or more servings a day to improve the
 health of all Americans.
     Information on Fitness Fever and tips on fitness and nutrition can be
 found at http://www.fitnessfever.com .  The 5 A Day Web site is
 http://www.5aday.com .
     Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul
 suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and
 continues to carry out its charter mission today:  to promote a wider, more
 economical and timely availability of health services for the people of
 Minnesota.  A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest
 health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2 million members in Minnesota and
 nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated
 companies.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee
 of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.
 
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SOURCE  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

    ST. PAUL, Minn., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fitness Fever program that
 caused an epidemic of fun with food and fitness in schools across Minnesota in
 February received a Diamond Crystal Award from the Produce for Better Health
 Foundation, April 28 at the foundation's annual spring board meeting in
 California.
     Fitness Fever received one of nine national excellence awards -- and the
 only one given to a Minnesota organization -- for efforts promoting the 5 A
 Day message.  Fitness Fever was recognized as an outstanding community
 initiative for its 5 A Day education efforts in schools, work sites and
 communities.
     In its sixth year, Fitness Fever has become the largest school-based
 health promotion in the state with more than 275,0000 students participating
 in 758 elementary schools.  The month-long program provides resources for
 teachers, parents and students that teach children to take responsibility for
 their health with fun ways to eat right and stay active.  Fitness Fever is
 offered to schools through a partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
 Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of
 Children, Families & Learning and the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. The
 nutrition component is based on the 5 A Day concept encouraging people to eat
 five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
     Fitness Fever is receiving increasing attention as a national model for
 developing healthy behaviors in children and families.  The program has been
 featured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National
 Coordinating Committee on School Health, and the Pediatric Academic Societies
 of America.
     The 5 A Day for Better Health program is a national nutrition education
 initiative co-sponsored by the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the
 National Cancer Institute.  Its mission is to increase consumption of fruits
 and vegetables to an average of five or more servings a day to improve the
 health of all Americans.
     Information on Fitness Fever and tips on fitness and nutrition can be
 found at http://www.fitnessfever.com .  The 5 A Day Web site is
 http://www.5aday.com .
     Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul
 suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and
 continues to carry out its charter mission today:  to promote a wider, more
 economical and timely availability of health services for the people of
 Minnesota.  A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest
 health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2 million members in Minnesota and
 nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated
 companies.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee
 of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X63064358
 
 SOURCE  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota