By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A flock of children in matching blue t-shirts sprinted onto the South Brunswick Family YMCA’s front lawn on Culver Road last Thursday. Pairing up with a buddy, each pair snatched a Hoola-Hoop, got inside and began to move around as if driving cars.
”Flat tire,” called Yasmin Ulloa, the YMCA after school coordinator, to the kids as they circled around her.
They all began to hop on one foot for several seconds. After that, the little drivers began accelerating around orange cones marking the course of travel.
”Pot hole,” called Ms. Ulloa again, causing the kids to jump and hop.
”Automobile” is just one of the “healthified” games that are part of the YMCA’s after school Healthy U program, which aims to battle childhood obesity by encouraging healthy behaviors through active games and nutritional lessons five days a week.
The YMCA kicked off its fourth annual Healthy U on Oct. 18, which is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the Horizon Foundation that is then dispersed to all the YMCA’s in the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. This year, about 40 children from kindergarten to fifth grade are trading in their Xboxes and Fritos for exercise and healthy snacks for a couple of hours each day after school.
”Healthy U is important. Some children who go home after school won’t be getting the same level of activity,” said Ruth Todd, the YMCA child care director. “With Healthy U, I know for sure they are getting at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity.”
Before the kids went outside, they each wrote down how they would make a commitment to be healthier. The promises ranged from “doing more exercise” and “drinking less soda” to “eating more broccoli” and “swimming, not sinking.”
Before the last drop of ink could dry, they were off with Ms. Ulloa and Drew Hill, the after school counselor, to play “automobile,” soccer, “red light, green light” and other traditional games.
In Healthy U these classic games are “healthified” and the kids are always participating because elimination does not exist. A child may have to do five jumping jacks to reenter “tag.” In kickball, when a teammate kicks the ball, the whole team runs the bases.
Kris Vikram, 6, said in Healthy U they also do a lot of sports. Kris said so far, his favorite activity is basketball because he “likes to jump and get the ball in the hoop.”
”I eat lots of veggies and fruits,” said Kris when asked how he stays healthy, and that his favorites are broccoli and watermelon.
Eight-year-old Eric Yang said he loves to play soccer even though running too fast sometimes makes his throat hurt. For Eric, nutrition is particularly important.
”I eat apples every night and milk with every meal,” said Eric, before he ran off to join the ongoing soccer game.
After working up a sweat, the children went back inside to partake in Healthy Bingo, learned how much sugar was in their favorite sodas and made their own fruit parfaits.
Typically, Healthy U gets kids up and moving right away at 3:15 p.m. with two organized games. The games are followed by a healthy snack of fresh fruit or vegetables and a nutrition lesson before 45 minutes dedicated to homework and free play.
On this particular day, the kids were able to leave with a goodie bag of organic vegetables, thanks to Kremer Landscaping, which donated its garden’s surplus to the Y. Ms. Todd said the take-home vegetables were a good way to encourage parents to be healthier too.
YMCA Executive Director Tom Libassi emphasized educating parents on healthy behaviors is equally important. He thought by teaching the children how to be healthier, they would bring that mindset back into their households.
”Hopefully, that logic can be applied here and make a dent in childhood obesity,” Mr. Libassi said.
So far that logic appears to be working in the Bhagat household. Resident Ajay Bhagat said since his daughter Sejal, 7, has been in Healthy U, she not only eats healthier, but inspires him and his family to live healthier lifestyles.
”The kids say ‘I have to eat healthy snacks,’” said Mr. Bhagat, as he came to pick up Sejal. “This program gets them into the habit of ‘eat healthy, be healthy.”
He said he is particularly thrilled one of his children has recently taken a liking to carrots.
”He hated carrots and then one day he said ‘Daddy, give me some with ranch (salad dressing),” said Mr. Bhagat with a laugh. “I said ‘okay, that’s fine.’”

