An Apple a Day Children's Nutrition Tracker is helping kids make - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - As the saying goes, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' And for the United Way of the Mahoning Valley's Success by Six students, it also means making healthier choices.

"You start the day with all of the doors open then you shut the doors throughout the course of the day. It really helps the children see visually what the five food groups are. It helps track treats, but we also want to encourage physical activity which is what's great about it," said An Apple a Day owner David Cagigas.

Over the last four years, Valley-native David Cagigas and his sister Lisa have worked to develop An Apple a Day Children's Nutrition Tracker. They based it off the USDA MyPlate nutritional guidelines.

"I refer to it sometimes as stealth health. We are finding kids are eating healthier and they are not even realizing it. We sort of found a fun, cool way to make healthy choices," Cagigas said.

Choices the folks at United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley wanted to share with their Success by Six pre-kindergarten readiness program. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation, more than 600 students will be sent home with the trackers.

"This ties in because obviously we want kids to eat well, eat healthy and all the data shows if they are eating well, eating healthy they are going to learn better. They are going to have an opportunity to be more productive in the classroom," said Bob Hannon, President of the United Way of Youngtown and the Mahoning Valley.

"I think it is great. I think it can really go along way and hopefully when we get that first round of evaluations in we will be able to see what we can do with the initiative in the future," said Marissa Murphy, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley's Donor Coordinator.

A future Cagigas believes is bright. He's already been overwhelmed with positive feedback.

"Our mission for the company is to help parents give the gift of good nutrition to their children and then to help children make choices that will lead to healthy and happy lives," Cagigas said.

The nutrition trackers aren't unique to the program. Anyone can order them. You can log on to www.anappleaday.com to learn more.