Major League Lunch Essays By Evan Baschko
Central Elementary School

My name is Evan Baschko and I am writing about why it is important to stay healthy. If you are healthy, you will be better at sports like baseball, basketball and football. Strong bones and muscles will help you run faster, throw farther, and hit better. People that are too overweight can't play sports as long as healthy people. It is hard for people to participate when they are short of breath. There are a few important parts of being healthy.

The first thing you need to do to be healthy is eat good food. It's not healthy to keep eating junk food. Eating veggies and fruits are very good for your body. Drinks like "Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Pepsi" may be tasty, but are unhealthy because they have lots of sugar in them. You should drink water or milk instead.

Second, getting enough sleep is very important. You will not do well if you are tired. Everyone should try to get around 9 hours of sleep each night.

Third, washing your hands will also keep you healthy. After you play sports or go outside it is important to wash your hands with soap and water. You should also wash before you eat so that you are not eating germs that can make you sick.

Finally, it is important to get a lot of exercise. Exercise keeps your muscles strong and helps you stay fit. You do not have to be athletic to exercise. If you aren't good at sports, you can still walk, run or ride a bike for exercise.

Healthy people may live longer and better lives because they are always able to participate in activities. People who are overweight can always start being healthy so they don't get left out of the fun.

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Eat Smart, Play Hard By Cecelia Perez
Waverly Elementary School

It is important to eat smart. Eating smart helps you stay healthy. Also good nutrition helps you grow healthy. You don't ever want to be overweight or underweight. Always try to eat food from the Food Pyramid. When you go shopping for food, read the food labels. Be sure to start each day with a healthy breakfast. Be smart and eat healthy!

It is also important to play hard, or exercise. Exercising helps us stay in shape. You should exercise every day for at least an hour. To exercise, you could jog, play sports, ride bikes, walk, roller blade, or do gymnastics. You could exercise at a park, in gym class, or anywhere. Sitting all day, eating junk food, or playing videos all day are unhealthy. Always try to exercise everyday. Eat smart and play hard!