Expected and outcomes/objectives

1. Healthy Lunches and Snacks for Primary and Secondary School StudentsYolanda L. Stevenson, MPH StudentWalden UniversityPUBH 6165-2 Environmental HealthInstructor: Dr. Rebecca J. HeickWinter, 2009

2. Expected and outcomes/objectives • Better food, better behavior in schools. • Healthy celebrations • Eliminating saturated fats and the amount of sodium in cafeteria lunches • Health/nutrition education for teachers and students • Implementation of school gardens • Encouraging parents to pack healthier lunches

3. Better food, better behavior in schools • Healthier options in the cafeteria • Eliminate unhealthy options (ex. added sugar, whole and chocolate milk, and juices made from concentrate). • Better behavior and staying on task in the classroom. Healthy food for our children in school (2008). Healthy school meals. Accessed from http://www.healthyschoolmeals.org/

4. Eliminating saturated fats and high sodium in the cafeteria • Commonly found in foods like: • Pizza products • Condiments/spreads • Whole and 2% milk • Salad plates/salad bars • Hamburgers and cheeseburgers Nutritional quality of school meals (2009). National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity. Accessed from http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/school_meals_fact_sheet_2009.pdf

5. Health/nutrition education curriculum in schools. • Should be mandatory for grades K-8. • Teachers and students learn valuable healthy nutrition practices. • Understanding can be demonstrated through cooking demonstrations and snack preparation. • Participation in the Food in Schools training program. Food in Schools. (2010). Primary training. Accessed from http://www.foodinschools.org/

6. School gardens and locally grown produce. • School meals are almost always based on animal products. • School meals contain many processed foods. • Farm to school programs support good health and farmers. • School gardens teach an appreciation for nature and good food. NY Coalition for Healthy School Food (2010). Environmental Issues . Accessed from http://www.healthylunches.org/environmental.htm

7. Benefits of Healthy celebrations • Healthy kids learn better • Provides consistent messages • Promotes a healthy school environment • Creates excitement about nutrition • Protects children with food allergies Healthy Celebrations: Promoting a Healthy School Environment. (2005). Accessed from http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/Connecticut/CT%20Healthy_Celebrations.pdf

8. Key learning goals • Schools providing healthier options, creating healthier children • Creating a better academic environment • Nutrition education in primary and secondary classrooms • Healthier celebrations

9. References: • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2007). School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study – III: Summary of Findings. Accessed from: http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/menu/Published/CNP/FILES/SNDAIII-SummaryofFindings.pdf. • NY Coalition for Healthy School Food (2010). Accessed on http://www.healthylunches.org/ • Healthy School Meals: Muskegon County Farm-to-school project (2008). Healthy food for our children in school. Accessed from http://www.healthyschoolmeals.org/ • Food in Schools: Primary Training (2010). Accessed from http://www.foodinschools.org/

10. References: • Healthy Celebrations: Promoting a healthy school environment (2005). Accessed from http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/Connecticut/CT%20Healthy_Celebrations.pdf • NY Coalition for Healthy School Food (2010). Environmental Issues . Accessed from http://www.healthylunches.org/environmental.htm

11. Suggested Resources • Province of Manitoba: Manitoba Healthy Schools http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyschools/issues/index.html • American Dietetic Association. www.eatright.org • Food Standards Agency: eat well, be well. http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/ • Shield, J., Mullen, M. C., (2002) The American Dietetic Association Guide to Healty Eating for Kids : How your children can eat smart from five to twelve. Hoboken, NJ. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.