5210 In Action

Learn to incorporate four healthy habits into a variety of settings where people live, learn work and play.

Many 5210 resources can be found at mainehealth.org/lets-go and marybridge.org/services/ready-set-go-5210

5210 in Healthcare

It’s not easy to talk with patients and clients about their weight, diet, or a physical activity. Time pressure and concerns about the reaction you may experience make addressing these issues easy to avoid.

Ready, Set, Go! 5-2-1-0 wants to help make discussing these issues easier for every clinician in Clallam County. Below, we offer information, support and materials you can copy and use in your practice. Whether you are a physician, mid-level practitioner, dietitian, mental health counselor or other healthcare professional, you can have a strong impact on your patient’s choice—or that of their family—to adopt healthier habits.
 
Healthcare organizations—be they doctors’ offices or hospitals—can also achieve success in the 5-2-1-0 initiative simply by adopting healthy workplace practices.
 
As the image below illustrates, the way your facility chooses to adapt its environment for healthy choices can impact outcomes for staff, patients, and visitors. Workplace wellness programs, healthy food in meals and vending areas, and baby-friendly policies all send a message that you really mean it when you say you support a healthy lifestyle.

5210 in Early Childhood

​In the early childhood sector, Ready, Set, Go! 5210 aims to increase healthy eating and physical activity among children in child care settings. The childcare environment can play an important role developing health behaviors of children during formative years. Childcare activities can provide opportunities for physical activity, healthy eating, and role models for these behaviors.

As children age, their habits solidify. Good nutrition and plenty of physical activity are key to a young child’s growth and development. The early years of childhood – from birth to age 5 – are a critical period for the development of these healthy behaviors that can have a lifelong impact on a child’s quality of life.

5-2-1-0 Goes to Child Care is based upon the 10 Strategies for Success listed below, and uses a 6-step process to guide child care programs in creating an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity for the children in their care.

1. Limit unhealthy choices for snacks and celebrations; provide healthy choices.
2. Limit or eliminate sugary drinks; provide water.
3. Prohibit the use of food as a reward.
4. Provide opportunities to get physical activity every day.
5. Limit recreational screen time.
6. Participate in local, state, and national initiatives that support healthy eating and active living.
7. Engage community partners to help support healthy eating and active living at your site.
8. Partner with and educate families in adopting and maintaining a lifestyle that supports healthy eating and active living.
9. Implement a staff wellness program that includes healthy eating and active living.
10. Collaborate with Food and Nutrition Programs to offer healthy food and beverage options.

5210 in Schools

​Schools reach children during an important period of development, in an environment that can positively influence healthy behaviors. Children spend the majority of their day at school and eat one or more meals, plus snacks during that time. Combine this with educational goals focused on positive physical, social, emotional, and academic development and schools are an ideal location to support increased physical activity and healthy eating. Schools have the opportunity to provide healthier foods in the classroom and cafeteria, and to creatively increase physical activity throughout the entire school day, supporting healthier children now. They also provide a safe environment for children to learn and practice the skills needed to support healthy behaviors for a lifetime!

To address the policies, practices, and environments that influence healthy lifestyle behaviors, schools can use our 10 Strategies for Success:

1. Limit unhealthy choices for snacks and celebrations; provide healthy choices.
2. Limit or eliminate sugary drinks; provide water.
3. Prohibit the use of food as a reward.
4. Provide opportunities to get physical activity every day.
5. Limit recreational screen time.
6. Participate in local, state, and national initiatives that support healthy eating and active living.
7. Engage community partners to help support healthy eating and active living at your site.
8. Partner with and educate families in adopting and maintaining a lifestyle that supports healthy eating and active living.
9. Implement a staff wellness program that includes healthy eating and active living.
10. Collaborate with Food and Nutrition Programs to offer healthy food and beverage options.

5210 for After School Programs

​Ready, Set, Go! 5210 aims to reach children and their families with messages that support healthy eating and physical activity.

The after school environment can play an important role in the health behaviors of children. Like schools and early childhood programs, the after school environment provides ample opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating. In some ways, the programs have more flexibility than public schools in making changes, and many after school environments, such as community recreation centers, can lead the community in creating healthy places and habits.

After school efforts to promote 5-2-1-0 are most effective when accomplished in partnership with parents and families who reinforce and support healthy eating and active living in the home environment and throughout the community.