CURRENT GUIDELINES SURROUNDING SCHOOL NUTRITION …



Group 3English 202-40November 5, 2012Faith ValenteParent Teacher Association PresidentCoeur d’ Alene School District 271Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814Dear Ms. Valente,Here is our report, an assessment of current school lunch programs and trends. In preparation for this report we each engaged independently in background knowledge acquisition. We held an in-person meeting, and had many collaboration sessions punctuated by phone and text messaging. We each learned a great deal about the history, current trends, and reasoning for much of the nutritional awareness presented in this report.Although our initial focus was to be more focused on local finances, we felt that it was more important to explore the federal programs that are currently enacted. Our federal resources being primary suppliers for our local funding, we felt that a top down approach would be more informative to our audience.The programs currently underway are of great benefit to our students, and it was our goal to then determine if these programs were effective in their goals. Historical research seems to support the common sense approach that better fed students are better prepared students. Our own research supports these findings as well.Through compromise, we worked together on this project and made the most out of this assignment. One compensation and change we had to make was to produce a .doc rather than a .rtf file for our final report due to technology constraints. With technology breakdowns and difficulty matching schedules, we have done an admirable job in completing this assignment fully and up to par with our expectations. Sincerely,Group 3Chris ReganRyan OdegaardEmily SonAmanda SwisherCURRENT GUIDELINES SURROUNDING SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS:AN ASSESSMENTForFaith ValentePTA PresidentCoeur d’Alene ISD 271Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814By: Ryan OdegaardChris ReganEmily SonAmanda SwisherEnglish 202-40Group 3November 5, 2012TABLE OF CONTENTSSectionPageAbstractiiiIntroduction 1Background 1A New Era of Health Food2Examples of the HHFK in Action4Conclusion 5Works Cited 6List of FiguresAppendix AAbstract:The following report describes current school lunch programs and trends. It includes background information on previous school lunch programs and describes the changes that are currently being made to create healthier school meals. It explains that the new system is working and will create a more healthy and positive environment for students overall.INTRODUCTIONRecent changes have been made within our schools. One fundamental shift that has an effect on the entire school day and learning process is the recent change in the school nutrition guidelines. This occurred with the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2011. The implementation of this bill is underway on a national and local level.Dozens of studies have been reviewed that confirm what we all seem to know intuitively, good foods in a healthy diet lead to healthy kids who have an increased likelihood of success. As Saul states:Adopting a better nutrition program in schools will not only affect positive changes in behavior, attendance, and overall health, it will improve students’ ability to learn and thus raise their levels of achievement. Reduce problem behaviors and referrals, increase student learning, raise test scores, and lower dropout rates? It is an administrator’s dream. The dream however can become a reality, and schools have done just that by providing healthier food choices for students. (79)It is our aim then, not to prove the link between nutrition and achievement, but to determine if the current changes are enough to ensure our children will be well nourished and well prepared in the future. In this aim we have researched the history of the programs in question, the current legislation, what this program looks like in our schools, and the effects that may already be visible in this new program.In our conclusion we will determine if enough is being done on a federal and local level to ensure our students success based on the link between nutrition and achievement and offer suggestions for further implementation. We will offer steps that can be adopted by local nutrition experts, and local school boards. Finally, we will take a stance with regards to the efforts of the current program, and it’s outlook for the future.BACKGROUNDIn 1946 President Truman signed the National School Lunches Act (NSLA). This program began as a federal grant program to reimburse the states. Within one year, the program had served half a billion meals to over 7.1 million students. The use of the program began to outstrip its appropriations in the 1950s as the baby boomers entered school, prompting a 1962 amendment to the NSLA that guaranteed meal reimbursement. Expansion of the program in the 60s also included breakfast and summer programs. Finally, in 1969 President Nixon established free and reduced-price lunches for needy children through additional funding to the program. By 1971 these guidelines had been established and the program now served 3.8 billion meals to 24.5 million children ("Legislative Highlights.")Little else changed in the federal guidelines until a USDA assessment in 1993 highlighted the high fat content in school lunches, yet they still concluded that the school lunch program was the healthiest alternative for most children. By 1994 legislation was adopted to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. Dietary guidelines were set, and an increase in nutrition education for children was enacted.A review of literature by Taras in 2006 concluded, “Understanding existing evidence linking students’ dietary intake and their ability to learn is a logical first step in developing school food service programs, policies, and curricula on nutrition and in guiding parents of school-aged children” (199). The focus had begun to shift not just to supplying food to our students but to be selective and purposeful in the foods we would offer them.Investigations from the last decade began to conclude that our school lunches, while still the best alternative, were lacking in variety, and quality. Often, costs have prevented appeal from being a consideration in the selection of foods offered. This is not to say that school have not been offering fruits and vegetables, but all too often they have been of the industrial, processed, canned or pre-packaged variety. Who can blame a student for not choosing a small wilted salad over a slice of pizza? These and similar concerns have led to the adoption of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2011.A NEW ERA OF HEALTH FOODIn 2010, President Barack Obama created the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, with hopes of overhauling our nation’s school nutrition system. Widely promoted by the First Lady, it has drastically changed the country’s approach when it comes to serving school meals. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act aims to change the learning environment in schools regarding nutrition; creating a healthy atmosphere from which children can make eating healthy a habit. On a broader scale, this act follows a series of movements from the government, pushing for a change in nationwide health standards. From children to adults, programs like MyPlate have formed to raise awareness of the dangers of not eating healthy. These modern programs replace the classic food pyramid, and are designed to engage people in active lifestyles and healthy eating. ?In 1992, the USDA released the Food Pyramid. This graphic was created to aid in detailing the types of foods that are needed to be eaten to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It featured four categories: meat, vegetables, milk, and fruits. In spite of involving just these four categories, a survey done in 1996 by the USDA found that many people were still very confused as to what was good and bad for them, and many found that the graphic representation of the pyramid only heightened their confusion. It was not until 2005, however, after being attacked by numerous scientific agencies, that the Food Pyramid received another overhaul. This update changed the Food Pyramid into “My Pyramid”, a website that people could access that would allow them to calculate their precise needs based on basic information such as height, weight, and levels of exercise. It also organized the groups of foods into color coded levels and divided sections that were visually less complex than the original pyramid. Despite these changes and upgrades to the classic pyramid, in 2010 it was decided that the Food Pyramid must be abandoned. Thus, MyPlate was born. (See Figure 2)In 2011, as part of a 2010 initiative to raise healthy eating awareness, MyPlate was unveiled. Introduced by Michelle Obama and the Department of Agriculture, this new representation of healthy eating replaced the derelict pyramid with a more accurate meal plate representation of required food portions. It not only implies a comfortable sit down meal, but the circular MyPlate logo also divides food groups into four sections; each proportioned based on recommended daily intake levels. It was specified that MyPlate was not created to change consumer eating habits, but rather to encourage and inspire consumers to focus on portions, sit down meals, and eating healthy. This is further encouraged through the new MyPlate website. This website offers printable guidelines, tips, and recipes to assist people in making eating healthy an easy task. With help from programs like MyPlate the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was created. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was created to allow funding for better nutrition and diet care in our nation’s schools. Not only does it grant funding to public schools, but it also set policies regarding lunch room meals, mandating healthy foods and healthy portions. This Act allows the USDA plenty of room to create more reforms and policy changes to better our nation’s school lunch environment. This act is a huge leap forward in terms of healthy eating in schools. Through massive policy changes, it now requires schools to serve fruits, vegetables, and other health food, on a daily basis. Through the HHFK, whole grains, fat-free and low fat milk is now a regular sight in school lunch lines. The HHFK and MyPlate work together to educate and reform the way our schools feed children, with hopes to change the way in which children eat. The goal is to make eating healthy an easy and delicious experience. The federal government also rewards schools who follow these guidelines by reimbursing them an additional six cents for every meal they serve that meets these guidelines. By the time these mandates went in to effect on July 1st of 2011, most schools across the country had already taken steps towards meeting the new guidelines by offering healthy meal choices on a daily basis. Since the USDA has pushed for health food awareness we have seen a variety of advertisements. From the original Food Pyramid, a confusing and disproportionate representation of what was supposed to be healthy food choices, to MyPlate a simple graphic that represents the basic needs and general portions for foods that will better our health, it seems an ongoing quest to educate the public about the benefits of healthy eating. Thanks to modern research and technology, it is easier to reach out and spread the news of healthy eating practices. Now that programs like MyPlate and the HHFK act are in place, we can already see a drastic change the atmosphere in which children eat. EXAMPLES OF THE HHFK IN ACTIONThe Walt Disney Corporation has been using their popular characters to advertise the importance of healthy eating and exercise. (“First Lady Joins the Walt Disney Company to Announce New Standards for Food Advertising to Kids”).? “The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives,” says Disney Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger. By 2015, all advertising, promotions, and sponsorships on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, and Disney online will meet the Company’s updated nutrition guidelines. Also, the Disney “Check Tool” is an icon that will display nutritious food and menu items from stores and restaurants. It will also appear on licensed food products and recipes on and . Disney is one of the most popular corporations to influence children, which means it has a big impact on children and their families. It makes good eating habits and being active more appealing to children. In September of this year, the USDA announced that they are giving grants to schools for support in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (“The School Day Just Got Healthier”). They are awarding approximately $5.2 million in 18 States, in which Idaho was awarded $245,120. Hopefully all the states can earn award money, eventually, to implement in the school lunch room. There is Team Nutrition, behavior-focused strategies that schools must follow. For example, providing food nutrition training for foodservice professionals to ensure they can effectively practice preparing healthy meals, providing healthy living education to teachers, parents, and students, and providing school and community support for healthy eating and exercise. Having this money will help ensure that healthy eating will actually be practiced and will start becoming a norm for everyday school life (See Figure 1).CONCLUSIONAfter viewing the programs that were discussed, we have concluded that the future for children’s nutrition in the school system is headed in the right direction. There may be a few gaps that still remain in the current system; however there will always be room for improvements. By looking back at the Food Pyramid, we can say that we obviously have come a long way towards the correct nutritional values, for people, in general. As of now, the HHFK act and the MyPlate program have been an overall success. More schools are reaching the health requirements and guidelines, helping children become healthier in both the mind and the body. Studies are continuing to be shown, locally, that student’s educational achievements have also increased since the recent changes in the nutritional values of the lunches. Some sources, such as the Harvard School for Public Health have called for more, clearer standards. They note that the USDA MyPlate is lacking in some fundamental understandings of the choices within the larger picture. Their recommendation can be seen in Fig 3. The HHFK program now in place has proven to be an improvement on previous programs and is still the most nutritious lunch available to most of our students. Further considerations will be made with this medical and nutritional community in mind. (See Figure 3)Given the limited resources and budgets of local schools, MyPlate and the USDA HHFK Act are vital components of a nutritious student meal. Without these resources, schools would very rapidly see a decline in student achievement across the boards. It is with conviction that we support the current and continuing efforts of our national school lunch standards.WORKS CITEDAlderman, Lesley. “Putting Nutrition at the Head of the School Lunch Line.”?New York Times?6 November 2010: B6. Print.Beechtree Tech. "Healthy Schools."?Healthy Schools. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <;."Coeur D'Alene School District."?Coeur D'Alene School District. School Loop. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <;."Facts About Child Nutrition."?NEA -National Education Assosciation. ?Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <;.??“First Lady Joins the Walt Disney Company to Announce New Standards for Food Advertising to Kids.”?The White House, Office of the First Lady.?05 Jun. ?2012. <, Anne.?School Nutrition Dietary Study?IIISummary of Findings. Virginia:?Alexandria, 2007. Print?"Idaho State Department of Education."?Idaho State Department of Education.??Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <, Jody. "Area School Districts Dish up Students’ Nutrition."?Spokesman-Review?[Spokane] 6 Sept. 2011, City sec. Print."Legislative Highlights." School Nutrition Association. Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <, Helen F. "Raising Student Achievement Through Better Nutrition." Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine 21.2 (2006): 79-84. Print.Schirm, Allen & Nancy Kirkendall, eds.?Developing and Evaluating Methods for Using?American Community Survey Data to Support the School Meals Programs Interim Report.?Washington?D.C.?: National Academies Press, 2010.?“The School Day Just Got Healthier.”?United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Web. 02 Oct. 2012.?<, Howard. "Nutrition and Student Performance at School."?Journal of School Health?75.6 (2005): 199-213. Print.APPENDIX ALIST OF FIGURESFigure 1Lee, Jesse. "The President & First Lady on Child Nutrition Bill: "The Basic Nutrition They Need to Learn and Grow and to Pursue Their Dreams"" . Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <;. PDF file. Figure 2"MyPlate Graphic Resources." MyPlate Graphic Resources. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <?‐materials-?‐ordering/graphic-?‐resources.html>. PDF file. Figure 3"The Nutrition Source." Harvard School of Public Health. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. < 200Figure 2Figure3Whole Grains?GrainsThe Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to choose whole grains and limit refined grains, since whole grains are much better for health. In the body, refined grains like white bread and white rice act just like sugar. Over time, eating too much of these refined-grain foods can make it harder to control weight and can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Read more about the health benefits of whole grains.MyPlate does not tell consumers that whole grains are better for health.Healthy Protein?ProteinThe Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to choose fish, poultry, beans or nuts, protein sources that contain other healthful nutrients. It encourages them to limit red meat and avoid processed meat, since eating even small quantities of these foods on a regular basis raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and weight gain. Read more about the benefits of choosing healthy protein.MyPlate’s protein section could be filled by a hamburger or hot dog; it offers no indication that some high-protein foods are healthier than others, or that? red and processed meat are especially harmful to health.VegetablesVegetablesThe Healthy Eating Plate encourages an abundant variety of vegetables, since Americans are particularly deficient in their vegetable consumption—except for potatoes and French fries. Potatoes are chock full of rapidly digested starch, and they have the same effect on blood sugar as refined grains and sweets, so limited consumption is recommended. Read more about the benefits of vegetables.MyPlate does not distinguish between potatoes and other vegetables.FruitsFruitsThe Healthy Eating Plate recommends eating a colorful variety of fruits. Read more about the benefits of fruits.MyPlate also recommends eating fruits.Healthy Oils?(Not included in MyPlate)The Healthy Eating Plate depicts a bottle of healthy oil, and it encourages consumers to use olive, canola, and other plant oils in cooking, on salads, and at the table. These healthy fats reduce harmful cholesterol and are good for the heart, and Americans don’t consume enough of them each day. It also recommends limiting butter and avoiding trans fat. Read more about the benefits of healthy fats and oils.MyPlate is silent on fat, which could steer consumers toward the type of low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet that makes it harder to control weight and worsens blood cholesterol profiles.WaterDairyThe Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to drink water, since it’s naturally calorie free, or to try coffee and tea (with little or no sugar), which are also great calorie-free alternatives. (Questions about caffeine and kids? Read more.) It advises consumers to avoid sugary drinks, since these are major contributors to the obesity and diabetes epidemics. It recommends limiting milk and dairy to one to two servings per day, since high intakes are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer; it recommends limiting juice, even 100% fruit juice, to just a small glass a day, because juice contains as much sugar and as many calories as sugary soda. Read more about healthy drinks and read more about calcium, milk and health.MyPlate recommends dairy at every meal, even though there is little if any evidence that high dairy intakes protect against osteoporosis, and there is considerable evidence that too-high intakes can be harmful. MyPlate says nothing about sugary drinks or juice.?Stay Active(Not included in MyPlate)?The figure scampering across the bottom of the Healthy Eating Plate’s placemat is a reminder that staying active is half of the secret to weight control. The other half is eating a healthy diet with modest portions that meet your calorie needs. Read more about the benefits of staying active.There is no activity message on MyPlate. ................
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