Healthy Living Long Island Program

The mission of the Healthy Living Long Island Program is to teach children healthy lifelong habits from an early age.

In 2018, medical students in the Community Service Club at the Zucker School of Medicine partnered with the principal at the Barack Obama Elementary School in Hempstead, New York to form the Healthy Living Long Island Hempstead public health initiative. This program, adapted from Maine’s Let’s Go! Program, serves as a model for teaching children healthy lifelong habits from an early age.

A doctor in a white coat speaks to a group of children seated at tables in a classroom, while a few adults observe in the background. The focus is on the doctor’s hand and the children’s attentive faces.

5-2-1-0 Guidelines

These habits are defined by the nationally recognized 5-2-1-0 guidelines, advising children to:

Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables
Spend no more than 2 hours on recreational screen time
Participate in at least 1 hour of physical activity
Drink 0 sugary beverages every day

Two healthcare workers smiling and standing indoors. One wears blue scrubs with a stethoscope, glasses, and a blue hair clip; the other wears a navy pullover and name badge. Both have their hands at their chests, appearing cheerful.

Program Implementation

The implementation of this program includes:

Two classroom visits to 3rd graders introducing the 5-2-1-0 guidelines
One kickoff event at the Zucker School of Medicine with fun and educational activities to reinforce the guidelines
One final reinforcement lesson at the elementary school

This program is now in its third year of existence.

A male doctor in a white coat and a female nurse in blue scrubs interact with children in a classroom; one child raises their hand while the doctor gestures and smiles. A white screen with text and images is in the background.

Commitment to Community

The Zucker School of Medicine is most proud to support URM, K-16 students on their pathways to becoming healthcare professionals.