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Kids can color in the characters on their 5 A Day picture frames.

March is the month to
focus on good nutrition

Star-Bulletin

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to get healthy in many ways, but especially to remember to eat your fruits and vegetables -- five servings a day, in case you've forgotten.

Seems a simple concept, but only 32 percent of American adults -- and 16 percent of children -- pull it off on a daily basis.

To make the idea more fun, HMSA presents the 5 A Day Friends, costumed characters dressed as a banana, pineapple, broccoli, papaya and mushroom.

Meet the walking, talking, fruity, veggie friends at these public appearances:

Windward Mall: Noon Sunday, with Mr. Mick (Mickey Campaniello of the Someone Special Foundation), magician Travis Rozalis and Imua.

Pearlridge: Noon March 19, with Mr. Mick, Rozalis and musician Kim Shinamoto.

Pick up posters and recipes, as well as healthy snacks. Kids can have their pictures taken with their favorite 5 A Day Friend, to fit in a 5 A Day magnetic frame.

The 5 A Day Friends, by the way, are available for appearances at community events. Call 948-6848.

Also in honor of the special month, the Nutrition Program of the state Department of Health is distributing a free, poster-size 5 A Day calendar, which runs from March to February 2001.

The calendar features a dragon made of fruits and vegetables by students at Puuhale Elementary School. The dragon was the first-place winner in the 1999 Salad Head contest, sponsored by the Nutrition Department to bring the 5 A Day concept to children.

Calendars may be picked up at the Department of Health, 1250 Punchbowl St., Room 210. Call 586-4671.

Click for online
calendars and events.