The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust’s (TSET) Healthy Youth Initiative recently hit the airwaves with two messages focused on youth nutrition across the state. The first spot, “Revenge of the Junk Food,” emphasizes the importance of healthy eating, while the second, “Fuel for Football,” shows how drinking water improves athletic performance.

“As we address the issue of obesity among our youth, it’s vital we reach teens where they are with messages that resonate with their daily experiences, whether that’s through social media, school programs or community events,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET’s executive director. “These campaigns highlight the immediate consequences of unhealthy choices and empower young Oklahomans to take control of their health by offering practical tips.”

Both awareness messages are from Swap Up, a nutrition campaign aimed at Oklahoma teens.

“Revenge of the Junk Food” shows teens how unhealthy eating habits can negatively impact their school performance. A young student eats a fruit tart before a test, ignoring his friend’s advice to choose a healthier option. As a result, he struggles to concentrate and can’t focus on the test. When Oklahoma teens reviewed the message, many reported feeling encouraged to choose fruits and vegetables over unhealthy snacks, recognizing the real-life impact of their choices.

After the positive impact of its initial run, “Fuel for Football” returns to show a new group of teens how drinking sugary drinks instead of water can hurt athletic performance. A football player is shown being held back by the sugary drink he had before practice, making it hard for him to play well. After its original airing, follow-up surveys showed 62% of teens considered or tried to decrease the number of sugar-sweetened beverages they drink.

Both “Revenge of the Junk Food” and “Fuel for Football” will run across Oklahoma on multiple social media platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and YouTube as well as on television and cable networks.

You can view “Revenge of the Junk Food,” “Fuel for Football” and other youth nutrition messages at TSETHealthyYouth. com. Additionally, TSET has free healthy resources for educators, healthcare providers and youth-serving organizations available to order at TSETHealthyYouth. com/order.