JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Going back to school also means being in a healthy frame of mind.
Saturday the Mississippi Children's Museum and the American Heart Association teamed up to get families on the right track.
Folks waited in line and even cooled off in sprinklers outside of the museum to attend the "Go Healthy Challenge."
Youngsters completed healthy lifestyle challenges to receive school supplies.
The purpose of the event is to curb the state's growing childhood obesity rate, which is one of the highest in the nation.
"We want them to know that they can play and have a good time and be healthy at the same time. We always encourage children to try new things and that includes healthy foods. Some children, when you say healthy they think, oh that's gonna be gross, but we want to make sure that parents have resources," explains Mississippi Children's Museum Director of Marketing Elaina Jackson.
The event was free and open to the public. One student won an I pod touch.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.