When most think of weightlifting, they think about working out and hitting the gym. However, a major portion of building a strong, healthy body is nutrition. What types of food one puts into their body is often overlooked, especially by younger generations. Thus, in an effort to instill the idea of maintaining a proper diet, Health and Fitness Night was born.

Starting in 2019, Health and Fitness Night began as a way to teach students about preparing healthy meals. While some aspects have changed since the activity began, the foundation of the night remains the same. Sponsored by Physical Education and Weightlifting teacher Mr. Christopher Coennen, participation is heavily graded for all students in the Weightlifting classes. The expectations of attending the night are simple. Groups of no more than four students are in charge of preparing a dish for the night of the event, March 7, that exemplifies healthy eating in some form. Additionally, ways of distributing the dish and presentation of how the dish is beneficial to oneself are also required. These students would then gather their materials and set up at a table the night of the event.

Some students chose a bodybuilding approach by incorporating various protein powders or supplements into snacks such as muffins. Others cooked up foods with healthy substitutions to common foods, such as cauliflower crust pizza.

“I liked how everyone came together and made a healthy dish that other people can try,” junior John Tatko said, whose dish was lettuce chicken wraps.

Health and Fitness Night is not only a program that benefits students but the community as well. Anyone is invited to attend the night to sample the delicious food and get ideas on how to improve their diet. Many locals visited the cafeteria for the event, including students’ friends and family. The cafeteria was packed, showcasing the positive outcome of the event.

“The outcome was fantastic,” Coennen said. “Every year the students do better than previous years.”

The students cleaned up the cafeteria by 7:30, leaving it in the same condition they found it in. Most students ran out of their dishes, making the process much easier.

This year’s Health and Fitness Night had a great turnout. Many members of the community were able to fill their stomachs with food prepared by students and fill their minds with knowledge of healthy eating habits. The students in charge of these meals, through their own cooking, and their peers’, also learned these valuable lessons.

“The goal of hosting food night is to show the community what students are capable of and get the community involved with healthy eating. We might add fitness back into the night, but the whole idea is to focus on nutrition and what goes on in the body,” Coennen said.