HIP to Be Fit ®

Our children are currently facing a health crisis that is directly linked to their lack of physical exercise. Obesity and diabetes rates are alarmingly high. NDI New Mexico’s HIP to Be Fit® program gives teachers, students and families the tools to reverse these trends and help ensure that New Mexico’s children grow up healthy and successful.

In 2004, NDI New Mexico received a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop fitness and nutrition curricula for elementary school teachers and students, and to measure the program’s impact. Today, the HIP to Be Fit® curriculum addresses nutrition and healthy living in a fun and accessible way so that children can learn to adapt new, healthy behaviors.

There are three components to NDI New Mexico’s HIP to Be Fit® Project:

  • Train the Trainer: Through workshops and training materials, we give public elementary school teachers the tools and training to incorporate movement into their classrooms. This curriculum is designed to get kids moving while teaching them core curriculum.
  • S.N.A.C.K.: Student Nutrition Activity Curriculum for Kids brings nutrition and fitness curriculum and resources directly into the classroom. SNACK includes ten nutrition-based activities to do in the classroom and at home with family, along with basic nutrition information, a nutrition resource guide, easy-to-fix healthy snack recipes; snack, activity, and food logs.
  • Our Fitness Evaluation: This evaluation assessed the positive impact of our dance programs on improving fitness and meeting state PE standards in children who participate in our classes throughout New Mexico.

If you would like more information or the tools to ensure a healthy future for our children please contact Barbara Kastner at barbara@ndi-nm.org or (505) 983-7646 x124