copyright © 2012 school nutrition association. all rights reserved. school district date an...

Copyright © 2012 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved.

School District Date

An Introduction toSchool Nutrition

Add your School District Logo Here


Agenda

• The facts about school meals• Getting involved

© SN

A/

Ric

k B

rady© S

NA

/ R

ick

Bra

dy


School Meals – The Facts

• School Breakfast Program (SBP)– 11.6 million children served daily*– 83,600 schools participate in SBP*

• Our district’s School Breakfast Program– <Enter custom information here>

* USDA



• National School Lunch Program– 31 million children served daily– 96,500 of schools participate in NSLP

• Our district’s Lunch Program– <Enter custom information here>



School meals are healthier

than ever!

• Fresh fruits and vegetables• Whole grains• Reduced or zero TransFats• Salads and salad bars• Lowfat dairy items• Baked items rather than fried• Healthy cooking/prep techniques


• School meals are balanced and healthy– The National School Lunch Program requires school lunches

to meet federal dietary guidelines which dictate:


Calorie limits are set by age/grade

group

School meals must be served in

grade/age appropriate

portions.

Less than 10 % of calories come from

saturated fat.



• School Lunches include innovative items:1. Milk – Lowfat or Nonfat2. Vegetables – From jicama to fresh carrots3. Fruit – Everything from kiwi to locally grown apples4. Grains – More whole grains5. Protein – lean meats and beans

With all of these choices, school meals add up to great value!


• What about the childhood obesity crisis?– There is no evidence that either the school breakfast or lunch program

is contributing to rising rates of childhood obesity. *– Children who eat school lunch are more likely to consume milk, fruit &

veggies and less likely to consume desserts and snack items than children who do not. *

– Students are less likely to gain weight during the school year when in school than during the summer when school is out. **

– Students only eat 17% of their meals each year in schools

*Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, February 2009**Source: American Journal of Public Health, April 2007


Addressing childhood obesity is a community-wide effort.


• School meals help students to do better in school– Research has shown that students who eat school

meals perform their best academically.– Students who eat school breakfast have greater gains

in standardized test scores and show improvements in math, reading and vocabulary scores.*

– Healthy eating correlates with less trips to the school nurse and less absenteeism.

– Providing nutritious school breakfast on testing days – and every school day - leads to improved test scores.

*Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001



• School meals are safe– School nutrition professionals have rigorous training in

food safety and have implemented a HACCP Plan.– School kitchens are subject to two health inspections

annually conducted by the local health department.– According to the CDC, school kitchens maintain

exceptional food safety records. • Schools account for only 4 % of foodborne-disease outbreaks.

(Food prepared at home – 20 %, Restaurant fare – 50 %)



How You CanGet Involved

© SN

A/

Ric

k B

rady© S

NA

/ R

ick

Bra

dy


• Visit the cafeteria during lunch or breakfast.• Join students for lunch or breakfast.• Encourage the school nutrition director to make

presentations to parents about the benefits of school meals and a healthy lifestyle at PTA meetings and in the classroom.

How You Can Get Involved


• Make time for school breakfast even if it’s in the classroom or on the go.

• Get involved in your local school wellness policy implementation.

• Encourage the school nutrition team to be well-trained with certification and credentialing programs from the School Nutrition Association.



• Value nutrition education as highly as the traditional core curricula: combine nutrition education with other subjects like math, science and social studies.

• Create a healthy school environment focused on nutrition education AND physical activity. Ensure there is enough time for recess, for physical education and for lunch!



Visit www.TrayTalk.org

• A national resource to learn the fact about school meals and share their ideas

• School district administrators can submit school nutrition success stories

• Sign up for quarterly emails to learn the latest news & trends in school meals


Visit www.TrayTalk.org

• Check out the ‘Get Involved Section’ – Help make our program shine by submitting a

school nutrition success story from our school/district

– Provide feedback about school meals in the feedback section

– Download banners and badges


• Healthy meals & food preparation

• Farm to school/Locally produced

• Nutrition education• Cooking with kids/School

gardens• Ethnic foods

• Vegetarian• Healthy school

environments• Eco friendly practices• Other (other ideas are

welcome – really!)

Submit a school nutritionsuccess story

About any of the following:


• Submit your success stories online at www.TrayTalk.org

• Don’t forget a photo! • You can also include other elements (audio,

PPT presentation)• Not all submissions will be published on the

website- but they may be used in other SNA published materials

Submit a school nutritionsuccess story


Thank you!

copyright © 2012 school nutrition association. all rights reserved. school district date an...

Documents

school year

facts school meals

school nurse

school research

school nutrition association

facts school lunches

school district logo

school district date