CHILD NUTRITION AND SCHOOL MEALS

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CHILD NUTRITION AND SCHOOL MEALS

• Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

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Alarming Trends

• Childrens diets dont meet goals
• Desirable physical activity levels are not being
  met
• Obesity rates are skyrocketing
• Adult diseases are showing up in children

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Surgeon Generals Report Recommends

• Health education in schools
• Meals that meet nutrition standards
• Policies in schools to ensure that all foods meet
  the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Provide food low in fat, calories and added
  sugars

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Additional Recommendations

• Healthy foods in vending machines and other
  venues
• Prohibit access to vending machines that compete
  with healthy meals
• Provide adequate time for school meals
• Physical education daily for all students
• Daily recess for elementary students

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Heart Disease Risk Factors in Children

• Percent of children aged 5-10, with one or more
  adverse heart disease risk factors
• 27.1
• Percent of overweight children aged 5-10, with
  one or more adverse heart disease
• risk factors
• 60.6

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Overweight Children

• 13 of children aged 6-11 are overweight
• 14 of children aged 12-19 are overweight
• These numbers are double the incidence of
  overweight two decades ago.

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Children Who Meet Dietary Recommendations for
Calcium
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Beverage Consumption in the U.S.
Milk
Regular Soft Drinks
J
Juice
Diet Soft Drinks
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Sources of Competitive Foods in Schools
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Schools Can Make A Difference

• Physical activity and nutrition are important

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Creating a Healthy School Environment

• To help prevent health problems
• Nutrition, physical activity and classroom
  activities can all support the effort

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Components of a Healthy School Environment

• Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Quality School Meals
• Other Healthy Food Options
• Pleasant Eating Experience
• Nutrition Education
• Marketing

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Schools can Commit to Improving the Environment
for Children

• Nutrition and physical activity are part of each
  school day
• Nutrition policies are in place and enforced
• School Foodservice is on the team
• School health councils give support

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School Meals Make an Important Contribution

• School Foodservice Contributes by
• Making healthy school meals available
• Providing healthy, tasty, appealing choices
• Making food safety a priority
• Designing menus to meet nutrition standards

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Other Healthy Food Options

• All foods and beverages available at school make
  a positive contribution to healthy choices
• Parents make healthy options available
• Food is not used for fund-raising

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Other Healthy Food Options

• Food is not used as a reward or a punishment in
  the classroom
• Access to vending machines with high
• fat and low nutrition foods is limited

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Pleasant Eating Experiences

• Meals at appropriate times
• Adequate time and space for meals
• Attractive dining room
• Handwashing areas available

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Nutrition Education

• Available pre-K through grade 12
• Focused on skill development
• Integrated into core curriculum
• Linked with school meals
• Involvement in Team Nutrition

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Marketing

• Healthy eating and physical activity
• are actively promoted
• Students receive positive,
• motivating messages
• Schools promote healthy
• food choices

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ASFSA Resources

• Website www.asfsa.org
• News articles
• Tuesday Morning
• Research
• Keys to Excellence
• Child Nutrition Foundation

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Action for Healthy Kids

• Goal To improve students performance through
  better nutrition and physical activity in
  schools.
• ASFSA involvement
• State Summits
• www.ActionForHealthyKids.org

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Your School Can Make a Difference

• Evaluate your school environment
• Form a School Team
• Develop an Action Plan