The children snacked on apples, bananas and whole-wheat, low-fat pizza at a Community Day event Saturday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ten-year-old Jovani Alavez spent his Saturday afternoon decorating an apple with hair, ears and a face, playing a parachute drop game with a clown, and eating whole wheat, low-fat pizza.
Of course, he didn't know the pizza was whole wheat -- it was just a tasty treat at the end of an active day.
"The pizza is good," the young Port Richmond resident said.
Jovani joined about 100 children and parents at Faith United Methodist Church in Port Richmond Saturday to take part in a Community Day event, aimed at teaching children healthy eating and beverage habits by promoting water over soda, and one-percent milk over whole milk.
"Today, the kids are enjoying pizza. They don't even know that it's healthy pizza," said Marianne Brennick, the chief of staff for Project Hospitality's executive director, the Rev. Terry Troia.
Volunteers have convinced several stores in Port Richmond to stock and promote one-percent milk as a healthy alternative to whole milk, Ms. Brennick said, and the demand has spiked at those stores in recent months.
The day was sponsored by Project Hospitality, Deustche Bank, El Centro del Inmigrante and the New York City Church of Christ.
At one table, a poster board display shows the amount of sugar found in popular drinks like Snapple, Sunkist, a Starbucks Frappucino and Gatorade.
The event's organizers handed out apples, bananas and small bottles of water, , while children's party performer Lena Lipavsky, dressed as a purple-haired clown, led a tug-of-war, a parachute toss game, and a balloon sword fight.
Jovani, who took a go at the parachute toss, said he has a taste for one healthy food in particular - broccoli.
He likes all the "little dots" that make up a broccoli floret.
"I like it like, hot, not cold," he said.