WHOLE COMMUNITY PROJECT BRINGING HEALTHIER FOODS AND HEALTHIER EATING HABITS TO TOMPKINS COUNTY SCHOOLS

Purpose The nutrition of the community is a very important issue. Especially when considering the health of growing children in school. For my action project, I want to raise healthy food choice issues and advocate for more nutritious foods in public schools of Tompkins County. The nutrition of the community is a very important issue. Especially when considering the health of growing children in school. For my action project, I want to raise healthy food choice issues and advocate for more nutritious foods in public schools of Tompkins County.

Goals To outreach to schools in the community and advocate awareness of child obesity To outreach to schools in the community and advocate awareness of child obesity To go to schools and spread healthy food eating habits to children To go to schools and spread healthy food eating habits to children To communicate with food services at public schools to put more healthy foods in the cafeteria To communicate with food services at public schools to put more healthy foods in the cafeteria Teach children healthy eating habits Teach children healthy eating habits Change school food choices for children Change school food choices for children Outreach to parents about healthy child eating habits Outreach to parents about healthy child eating habits

Progress Working with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Whole Community Project, I was able to get in touch with various administrators and health advisors in Tompkins County Working with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Whole Community Project, I was able to get in touch with various administrators and health advisors in Tompkins County FOOD CONFERENCE DAY FOOD CONFERENCE DAY TASTE TESTINGS FOR SCHOOLS (especially Ithaca schools) TASTE TESTINGS FOR SCHOOLS (especially Ithaca schools)

Challenges Group meetings were sporadic Group meetings were sporadic Unable to have all districts agree on food changes Unable to have all districts agree on food changes Food Conference pushed back to late May and still in planning phase Food Conference pushed back to late May and still in planning phase Too much talk and not enough action Too much talk and not enough action BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET!!!! BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET!!!!

Whole Community Project Whole Community Project Shira Adriance, Project Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Shira Adriance, Project Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension , ext , ext 157