“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

School Wellness SUCCESS

Building Healthy Students Family School Community

Nutrition Education Healthy Students Healthy Schools Healthy Staff

Nutrition Education Set the most appropriate wellness policies for schools. Provide accurate nutrition education to children. Role model healthy behaviors for children. Staff need science-based NUTRITION EDUCATION in order to:

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 School Wellness

What the law required starting in … Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and activities to promote wellness Nutrition guidelines for all foods available during the school day Ways of measuring how well the policy is being implemented Involvement of parents, students, school board, foodservice, administrators, teachers, and the public

WHY ???

Senator Tom Harkin “On one hand, the specter of malnutrition and hunger continues to haunt millions of Americans, especially children. At the same time, we are confronted with a grave public health threat in the form of obesity and overweight, which are quickly becoming a major threat not just to individuals but to our Nation as a whole.”

Our kids are facing a weight, nutrition, and health crisis.

Health Issues Overweight Overfed Undernourished Sedentary Diabetes (type 2) CVD Risk Factors Disordered Eating

Percentage of U.S. Children and Adolescents Who Are Overweight* Hubbard, 2006 * >95th percentile for BMI by age and sex based on 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts **Data are from for children 6-11 years of age and from for adolescents years of age Source: National Center for Health Statistics

Being overweight is an academic issue Overweight children have more school absences than children with a healthy weight. Seriously overweight children report a lower quality of life. Weight-related teasing is a major cause of bullying at school.

UNDERNOURISHED

Being undernourished is an academic issue Optimal nutrition is necessary for optimal cognitive functioning. Zinc and iron (along with other nutrients) are critically important to brain function. Sub-optimal nutrition can affect academic performance and even IQ scores.

UNDERNOURISHED

Kids who avoid milk are more likely to be overweight and to have bone fractures Higher milk intake in children is associated with lower body fat Importance of Dairy

SEDENTARY 64.2 percent did not meet current activity recommendations. 9.6 percent had not been active during the past 7 days percent did not attend physical education classes percent did not attend physical education classes daily percent watched 3 or more hours of TV on an average school day.

Being sedentary is an academic issue Excessive screen time undermines children's education. Research supports a connection between being active and improved brain performance. Children who achieve more fitness standards tend to score higher on standardized tests.

DIABETES Type 2 diabetes - once a disease of people over 40 - has become increasingly common among children (as young as 9 and 10). African-American, Hispanic-American and Native American youth are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. CDC estimates“one in three children born in the US in 2000 will become diabetic during their lifetime …”

Type 2 diabetes is an academic issue Children with type 2 diabetes have more school absences. Fluctuating blood sugar levels contribute to poor behavior and other school problems. Kids with type 2 diabetes need more intensive nursing services.

DISORDERED EATING Millions of young people struggle with dieting, body image, and eating disorders. Many normal weight, and even some underweight, teens feel pressure to be thin. When they want to lose weight, teens tend to use unhealthy, ineffective, and sometimes dangerous diets.

Disordered eating is an academic issue Teens with eating disorders do not get the nutrition they need for optimal performance. Young people with poor body image tend to make poor choices about other issues. Compulsive exercise takes energy from school.

Building Healthy Students Family School Community

First Things FIRST Breakfast for every child Recess before lunch Time to enjoy a balanced lunch Positive NON-food rewards Smart snack opportunities Physical education/activity daily

Nutrition Education Healthy Students Healthy Schools Healthy Staff

NUTRITION EDUCATION Gold Standard Integrated into core curriculum Science-based & tested Reinforces MyPyramid Integrates nutrition & fitness Links cafeteria & classroom FUN for teachers & students

Nutrition Education Easier than you think No need to reinvent any wheels Plenty of no-cost, accessible resources

Teaches nutrition with 4 th – 5 t grade math Meets national/state math standards Written by curriculum specialist Favorably reviewed by the ADA Foundation as part of the Healthy Weight for Kids Initiative Tested by classroom teachers Well-received by students Based on MyPyramid food groups Links food to physical activity Flexible and FUN CHOOSE WELL Tool Kit

FLEXIBILITY Incorporate all 8 lessons into regular math curriculum Use specific lessons or activities Show DVD for class discussion Utilize games in computer lab Put up posters Share kit with colleagues

Who benefits? Administrators Teachers Schools Families

Who benefits? STUDENTS

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” Dr. Seuss