IN THIS ISSUE:
10 STEPS TO A HEALTHY WEIGHT (free handout!)
THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA: School-based nutrition starts here!
NEWS IN BRIEF:
RECOMMENDED Book: Pig and the Shrink
RECOMMENDED SITE: California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

NUTRITION FOR YOUR CHILD: Ten Steps to a Healthy Weight

Download this free copy-ready handout by clicking on the link below. This handout offers practical guidelines for creating a more healthful family culture.

http://nutritionforkids.com/10steps.pdf

Click here to access a Spanish copy (word file) Thanks to Feeding Kids subscriber Angela D. Caldera for translating the handout!

THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA:
School-based nutrition starts here!

This article is directed towards school foodservice staff. Please share with the cafeteria staff and managers at your local school.

Attention School cafeteria staff! During your career in school foodservice, have you ever:
A. Nudged the fruit basket to the front of the counter so more students would be tempted to grab a piece?
B. Put up eye-catching signage to promote a new healthful entree?
C. Greeted a student with "See you at breakfast tomorrow"?
D. Stocked the salad bar with fresh seasonal produce?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you are promoting good nutrition habits. Whether or not it's apparent, everyone who works in school foodservice also wears the title of nutrition educator.

Nutrition is not just another subject – it is a behavior. A well-planned curriculum with excellent instruction and relevant homework assignments will be ineffective if students lack access to a variety of healthful, appealing foods. Nutrition in the classroom is only the beginning of teaching nutrition to kids.

Just as the study of chemistry involves laboratory hands-on experiments, the hands-on component of nutrition starts in the school cafeteria. Use the following guidelines as a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of your nutrition "laboratory."

Put the Food Guide Pyramid into Action
When students enter the cafeteria, what grabs their attention? Do they see racks of chips, vending machines filled with sweetened beverages or stations filled with branded fast foods?

Or, is the cafeteria a place where kids can recognize the Food Guide Pyramid as more than a poster on the wall? Is there emphasis on tasty fruits, veggies, grains, healthful entree choices and low fat dairy products?

Merchandise Healthful Food Choices
Make healthful foods beg to be eaten with clever marketing. The use of baskets, attractive arrangements, colorful food choices and garnishes will make nutritious foods stand out. Place nutrient-dense foods up front and center where they will grab students' attention as they walk into the cafeteria.

Limit availability of non-milk "liquid calories"
It's a simple fact: As kids and teens drink more soft drinks, they drink less bone-building milk. Kids consume more soft drinks now than ever before with the average teen male downing 34 ounces daily. In addition, there is an ever-growing array of sweetened fruit drinks consumed by kids.

Not surprisingly, recent research points to soft drink consumption as one factor contributing to the increase in childhood obesity. Offer a trio of good choices in your cafeteria, including a variety of low- and non-fat milks, 100% fruit juices and bottled water.

Set and enforce policies surrounding "Competitive Foods"
Nothing undermines a nutrition program faster than the competition from minimally nutritious foods sold in student stores, vending machines and at school fundraising events.

Lobby the school community to take a stand regarding these sales. Offer to stock vending machines with healthful choices and supply student stores with choices from the school nutrition program. Discourage the availability of low nutrient-dense food sold during breakfast and lunch periods.

Educate staff, students and parents
Don't keep the good news about your program to yourself. Be proactive about letting the school community and media know about the positive nutrition choices you offer in your cafeteria.

Since your menu hangs on thousands of refrigerators each month, make sure it "sings" the message of good nutrition and health. Use graphics, nutrition tips and facts about your program to spice up your menu.

Be a part of your school's wellness environment
Don't hide in your kitchen! Play an active role in health fairs, fitness activities, multicultural celebrations and wellness events. Let school staff know that you are a valuable food and nutrition resource.

Invite students on field trips to the school or central kitchen. To enhance the experience, combine the tour with a brief lesson on nutrition, give the students the opportunity to plan a menu, set up a taste test for a new product or challenge students to find foods from each food group.

Nutrition in Schools: Ideas that Work • Does your school have a vegetable or herb garden? If so, become a partner by using and highlighting the produce in the school cafeteria program. Many schools in California incorporate gardens into all aspects of the curriculum and school nutrition program. In addition, consider using local farmers as vendors for your nutrition program. Integrate agricultural education into your work in school foodservice. Visit http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/Resource/farmtoschool.htm for resources on incorporating a farm to school program in your district. • Kids drink more milk when it is packaged in single-serve plastic pints and sold in vending machines. For tips on establishing milk vending in your school, visit http://schoolfs.wisdairy.com and click on “milk vending.” • A Nutrition Advisory Council (NAC) is a win-win partnership for both students and the foodservice program: - Enlist the advisory council's help in devising a marketing scheme. Involve members in the development of a cafeteria slogan, logo, mascot, or catchy name for the cafeteria. - Give the advisory council space on the menu for a "student's corner" where they can provide tips about nutrition and facts about the school meal program. - Train advisory council members as peer educators. Provide students with nutrition training and simple lesson ideas.

NEWS IN BRIEF

RECOMMENDED Book: Pig and the Shrink
Pig and the Shrink, by Pamela Todd, Random House Children's Books, ©2000. Main character Tucker learns about life, friendship and ambition when he decides to use an overweight child nicknamed “Pig” (Angelo Pighetti) as his science project. Tucker's efforts at changing Pig's eating habits backfire, Pig gains even more weight during the experiment and Tucker fears he has lost a good friend. This humorous book sends a strong message about acceptance. Recommended for 9-12 year-olds. Order it online at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/044041587X/nutritionforkids/

RECOMMENDED SITE: California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
http://www.cfaitc.org
While the mission of CFAITC is “to increase awareness and understanding of Agriculture among California's educators and students,” the website offers top-notch resources that all states can access. Be sure to check out the comprehensive 2003 Teacher Resource Guide.

The information contained in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for medical and/or nutrition advice. See your physician and/or registered dietitian for individual health and/or dietary concerns.

©2003, by Connie Evers, All Rights Reserved. There is a modest reprint fee for reproducing the material in this newsletter in either print or electronic publications. Please send an email to reprint@nutritionforkids.com for details and rates.

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