# Presentation: 106831

## CHILD NUTRITION AND SCHOOL MEALS

- Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

**Notes:**

I know that you are interested in child nutrition.  I’m sure that your daily work is much more than “just a job” to you!

Today I’m going to talk about one of the most important issues facing our Nation today—children’s nutrition and health.

Our children are facing a health crisis.  Our schools have an important role to play in helping address the crisis.  And each of us play an important part.

## Alarming Trends

- Children’s diets don’t meet goals
- Desirable physical activity levels are not being met
- Obesity rates are skyrocketing
- Adult diseases are showing up in children

**Notes:**
Diets don’t meet goals:
Only 2% of children meet recommendations of Food Guide Pyramid
Less than 15% of school children eat recommended servings of fruit and vegetables
Only 30% consume recommended milk group servings
Teens drink twice as much soda a s milk
Nearly half of 12-21 year olds do not engage in regular physical activity
Childhood obesity is a national epidemic: 4.7 million children aged 6-17 are currently overweight or obese 
30,000 children have Type 2 diabetes, a type of diabetes that was once almost entirely limited to adults

## Surgeon General’s 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

**Notes:**

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity came out in December 2001.
It states that overweight and obesity have increased at alarming rates.  Our environment has allowed these conditions to increase.
It contains these recommendations for: Families and Communities, Schools, Health Care, Media, and Worksites.
The slide shows the school recommendations.

## 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

**Notes:**

Additional recommendations in the Surgeon General’s Report.

The Report suggests that health approaches in schools should extend beyond health and phys. Ed. To include school policy, the physical and social environment and links between schools and families and communities.
Communication between these groups is important and education of parents and school  staff is vital.

## 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%**

**Notes:**
A recent study in Pediatrics reported that more than 1⁄4 of children, aged 5-10, had one or more adverse cardiovascular disease risk factors.

That number rose to 61% among overweight children of the same age.

## 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.

**Notes:**

Children, as young as elementary school age, are increasingly at risk for diet related diseases.

## Children Who Meet Dietary Recommendations for Calcium

**Notes:**
Osteoporosis is a growing concern and many children may be setting the stage for problems in later life.  
From ages 2-8, 88% of boys and 79% of girls meet the dietary recommendations for calcium.
By ages 9-19, only 52% of boys and 19% of girls meet those recommendations.

## Beverage Consumption in the U.S.

- Milk

- Regular Soft Drinks

- J

- Juice

- Diet Soft Drinks

**Notes:**
Trends in the supply of beverages in our nation’s food supply help us understand one of the environmental influences that affect whether or not children and teens meet their calcium needs.
In 1970, there was more milk than soft drinks available.  By 1980, soft drinks had climbed ahead—look at the surge between 1985 and 1995.
There is a similar story in juice and diet soft drinks.  Juice has not declined, but diet soft drinks have grown at a much higher rate.

## Sources of Competitive Foods in Schools

**Notes:**
ASFSA research shows the source of competitive foods in schools.
84%--school clubs/groups
54%--athletic department
46%--PTA, parent groups
48% Principals
6%--commercial groups/fast food establishments
4%--other

## Schools Can Make A Difference

-     Physical activity and nutrition are important

**Notes:**
Schools can improve eating habits and physical activity patterns for long term health.
Studies show that nutrition and physical activity are linked.
Participation in school breakfast has improved students’ test performance, reduced tardiness and absenteeism, increased attention and improved behavior.
Physical activity among adolescents is consistently related to higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of anxiety and stress.

## Creating a Healthy School Environment

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

**Notes:**
In order to turn the negative trends around we must take action to improve the school nutrition environment.
A healthy school nutrition environment can help prevent health problems and help students live healthier, more productive lives.
We need your help to make our schools a place where students can learn about and participate in healthy eating.

## 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

**Notes:**
The US Department of Agriculture has outlined these six components of a healthy school nutrition environment.
Each component is important—each makes a valuable contribution to the whole school environment.
ASFSA, the American Dietetic Association and the Society for Nutrition Education recently released a position paper on comprehensive school health and the healthy school nutrition environment. 

## 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

**Notes:**
This slide outlines some definitions of success for each of the previous six components of a healthy school environment.
These are minimum standards.  As we review the list determine whether these are in place in your school...
Nutrition and phys ed are part of each school day, and taught in all grades
Policies address mealtime scheduling, cafeteria atmosphere, nutrition ed., and all foods on campus
SFS is part of the education team and included in decision making that affect the school nutrition environment
School health councils are formed and used to support nutrition and physical activity program goals.

## 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

**Notes:**
Healthy school meals provide energy for children’s minds and bodies.  Studies confirm what parents and teachers have said for years—children who are not well fed have a hard time learning.
Definitions of success:
School meal programs are available to all students ands they a re encouraged to participate
A variety of choices that appeal to students are available.  Quality, taste and appearance are a high priority.  Food is attractive.  Hot foods are hot and cold foods are cold.
Food safety is a priority.
Menus meet USDA standards, including 1⁄4 of the RDA’s provided at breakfast, 1/3 at lunch

## 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

**Notes:**
The quality of the school nutrition environment depends on the quality of all foods offered at school.  Foods of low nutritional value that compete with healthy school meals send mixed messages to students.
Parents can make a positive contribution by providing healthy food choices for parties, celebrations and bag lunches brought from home.
School groups can be encouraged to use non-food items for fund raising.

## 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

**Notes:**
Limit access to vending machines:
No access in elementary schools
No access until after the end of the day in middle and junior high schools.
No access until after the end of the last lunch period in high schools.

## Pleasant Eating Experiences

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

**Notes:**
Children will enjoy their food more and may try more healthy options iof they can relax, eat and socialize without feeling rushed.  Student needs must be considered when decisions are made regarding mealtime schedules and dining room atmosphere.
Definitions of success include:
Lunch is not served before 11:00 or after 1:00.
Adequate serving and seating areas are available.

## Nutrition Education

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

**Notes:**
Nutrition education is essential.
Definitions for success:
Nutrition ed. Available in all grades
Focus on skill development so that children learn and adopt healthy eating behaviors.
Integrate into core curriculum.
Coordination between foodservice and classroom.
Schools enroll as a Team Nutrition school.  This program promotes nutrition ed. And involves students, parents and community.

## Marketing

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

**Notes:**
Making  healthy food choices available is only one step in the process.  The benefits have to be promoted.
Do you promote your program to students, parents, teachers, administrators and the community?
How do you promote fruits and vegetables, for example, in your school?

## ASFSA Resources

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

**Notes:**
You  have a big job to do, but fortunately there are many resources to help you.
Your association, ASFSA,  has many resources.  A few are listed on this slide.
On ASFSA’s Web site you will also find a position paper enacted last fall (2002) on Healthy Child Weight – including resources for more information. The Keys to Excellence are being updated and will be available online soon as well.

## Action for Healthy Kids

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

**Notes:**
The Healthy School Summit, held October 2002 in Washington DC involved several hundred educators, school foodservice professionals and health professionals from across the nation in a two day summit meeting on children’s health. 
ASFSA has been on of the key organizations, along with 30 other groups in leading this initiative.
In the upcoming year there will be similar meetings in states throughout the U.S. 
Check out the website to see what is happening in your area.  You can join a state team and help to make a difference in your state!

## Your School Can Make a Difference

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

**Notes:**
Each and every one of you can take action now to create a healthier future for our children.  Talk to others in your school and determine what needs to be done to improve your school environment.  
Who else can you work with in your school?
Set goals and begin.
Be sure to promote your efforts and let others know what you are doing.
Get started on the important journey—one step at a time!