Health, the fourth H of the 4-H clover has been a part of 4-H since its early beginnings. The physical, mental and emotional health of today’s youth is again at a crossroad. Programs that promote healthy living practices are essential for young people to establish habits that will assure healthy and productive lives into adulthood. 4-H has become a national leader in health-related educational issues including chemical health, mental and emotional health, foods and nutrition, physical health, and safety.

GET MOVING - GET HEALTHY WITH NEW JERSEY 4-H is an interactive and fun way to learn healthy eating habits, portion sizes, the new Food Pyramid, and simple exercises. The program focuses on understanding My Pyramid, identifying portion sizes, and learning easy ways to exercise.

A key component of the program are activity kits that include the following activities - Exercise Challenge, Finding Your Pyramid, Healthy Plate, Measure Up, Portion Distortion, Read the Label, Serving Match, Think What You Drink, and What Counts. Each has a lesson plan and provides options for expanding the learning experience.
Arrangements can be made to borrow a kit or have county 4-H staff conduct an educational program for a club, school, or after-school program. The kit is also great for community health fairs since it provides quick and easy lessons.

CLICK HERE for a program summary.

CLICK HERE to visit the State's 4-H Get Moving Get Health Program web page.

4-H FOOD AND FITNESS AMBASSADORS. . .
The primary purpose of the 4-H Food and Fitness Ambassadors is to promote healthy eating and encourage people to engage in physical activities. Young people that have an interest in learning about healthy eating and benefits of an active lifestyle, an ability to communicate, and a desire to enhance leadership skills are encouraged to be Ambassadors.  Ambassadors attend a full day training provided by 4-H staff. Ambassadors are then responsible for a display during Fair, recruiting other 4-H members to help staff the display, attending follow up evaluation meetings, promoting the Food and Fitness focus, and helping with local educational and training programs. County 4-H professional staff and state 4-H staff are constantly available for support and assistance and provide appropriate communication and recognition to ambassadors.

ADDITIONAL 4-H HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAM AREAS. . .

• Babysitting
• Baton Twirling
• Bicycle Adventures
• Clogging
• Child Development
• Family Fun Nights - CLICK HERE to download a sample agenda in Microsoft Word format.
• Foods – 6 Easy Bites, Tasty Tidbits, You’re the Chef, Foodworks
• Microwave Magic
• Tae Kwon Do