Mural Painted Inside Waterbury Schools Reminds Students About Healthy Eating Habits

By Courtney Zieller and Olivia Lank for WFSB

A mural featuring the Duggan Elementary School mascot, the Duggan Dragon, painted by local artist David McDougall. Photo courtesy WFSB

When it comes to getting the right amount of fruits and vegetables, a Waterbury elementary school is taking it a step further to teach their students about healthy eating habits.

A 25-foot-long mural, featuring the Duggan Elementary School mascot, the Duggan Dragon, shows students that they should be incorporating healthy foods into their diets.

“It’s cool to see it all come together and see the kids get involved in it and just bring a little light into the city,” said David McDougall, artist.

David McDougall is a local artist who hand-painted the mural at the Waterbury school. It took him a few days, but he’s getting the kids involved with the painting too.

The kids are putting their handprints on the wall as a way to remember to eat healthy.

“We definitely wanted to incorporate the children somehow because after all, it is theirs, and we are leaving it for them. We wanted them to have a part in creating it,” said Abe Zimmerman of FoodCorps.

FoodCorps is a national organization devoted to ensuring children have healthy food choices in school. They’ve been a partner to Duggan Elementary School for six years.