IMPROVING THE SCHOOL NUTRITION ENVIRONMENT PUBH 8165-5 By Asuabiat Akpanuko

1. IMPROVING THE SCHOOL NUTRITION ENVIRONMENTPUBH 8165-5By Asuabiat Akpanuko

2. The Goal • The goal is geared towards improving children’s eating as well as physical activity habits. • Medium for achieving this goal the application of Dietary Guidelines for Americans. • Information on nutrition education, healthy eating, and physical activities would be the focal point

3. Introduction • This model of improving the school nutrition environment should provide students with a) comfortable place for eating lunch, b) enough time for lunch, c) appropriate time schedule/period of the day for lunch (i.e. not too early/not too late) in the day d)guarantee that soda would not be sold for lunch to raise money e) healthy choices should be available in school dining rooms, at school parties/activities

4. Healthy School Nutrition Environment • The school nutrition environment should be able to provide consistency and very reliable health information • The school cafeteria, classrooms, and recreational areas should emphasize healthy eating and physical activity habits • The emphasis on a healthy lifestyles should be carried out

5. The guidelines-should provide directives on improving school nutrition environment • Provides general outlines for the school nutrition team planning • Offers explanation for the six components of a healthy school nutrition environment • Present guidelines for working with the stakeholders

6. Support materials and Other Sources • Handouts-fact sheets/educational tools • Video-could help in educating students/stakeholders on healthy school nutrition environment • Power Point presentation:- 1) used when addressing the audience, students, and/or stakeholders about improving the nutrition environment in the schools 2) learned to eat healthy-brochures/pamphlets/ handouts would explain the importance of healthy eating 3) CD-ROM –includes the Power {oint presentation, a script for the presentation, and the various support materials

7. Creating a Team • Gather interested groups of people (educators, nutritionists, community leaders, parents, students, counselors, school foodservice directors, nurses, and physical education teachers) • Team members must be willing participants, interested and committed to the cause • Table/Discuss improving the school nutrition environment and voice out concerns

8. Planning For ChangeThese steps should guide the process of improving the school nutrition environment • Create a team • Identify any area where improvement is needed • Review the strengths/weaknesses, then come up with a plan of action. Decide on necessary activities/steps, materials/resources for their completion. If possible/necessary set a time table for reviewing, evaluating, and resolving any/or impending problems • Put the plan into action by assigning duties and responsibilities to each member • Review the plan as it progresses • Spread the words about the plan to others via radios, television, newspapers, pamphlets, etc. • Solicit for support, participation, and recognition for the school and program • Team members should communicate to others in the community

9. The Components of Improving the School Nutrition Environment • Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity • Quality School Meals • Other Healthy Food Choices • Pleasant Eating Experiences • Nutrition Education • Marketing

10. Component 1. Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity • Healthy eating and physical activity are essential for a) academic and physical potential b) mental growth c) good health and well being • Healthy nutrition environment and physical activity should top other priorities • All the stakeholders (principal, school board members, teachers, foodservice workers, community leaders, parents, students, etc.) should participate and support the program and policies of nutrition and physical activities. • Members’ decisions should be based on students’ nutrition and physical activities • Profits or budget concerns should not be the basis for any decisions

11. Component 2. Quality School Meals • All school meals should be a source of energy and nutrients for growth and repairs • Healthy and well nourished students have no difficulties in learning • Students should derive pleasure in tasting and enjoying different foods based on their experiences from the school meal programs • Students willingness to participate in schools breakfast, lunch, and after school snack program are indicative of the program’s success • Prices of the meals should be affordable • Students should have an input in planning the menu; the menu should reflect local, cultural and ethical concerns/considerations • Menu should feature healthy choices-tasty, good quality, attractive, appetizing, and nutrition standards should be met

12. Component 3. Other Healthy Food Options • Students should have the freedom to choose the food they want provided it is nourishing • There should be a variety of quality and healthy food in the school cafeteria • Vending machines, snack bars, school stores and any concession stands should supply healthy and nutritious foods/snacks • Nutrition goals and the health of the students should be paramount not profit margins

13. Eating Experiences • The school cafeteria should be a relaxed environment where students can eat and socialize • A relaxed environment can directly/indirectly influence a behavior in a positive way • An environment that is pleasant for dining and socializing enable students to focus on what they are eating, enjoying the taste, the aroma, and the sensory aspects of the food • In a relaxed environment there should be no rush to finish the food, the food should be properly chewed before swallowing • When the students are in a relaxed school nutrition environment, they could drink more milk (meet their calcium requirements), and no food would be wasted • Dining area should be well lit, attractive enough with tables/chairs • Adult supervision should be constantly present and visibly playing the role model

14. Component 6.Marketing • Administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members could benefit from a healthy school nutrition environment if they are aware of the healthy food choices and physical activities • The awareness could spring them into “action” • Marketing ideas about improving the school nutrition environment could motivate some stakeholders, enable the partners to change their mind and bring some needed changes to the school meal program • Discourage the sell and consumption of “junk food” • Encourage and promote healthy food choices, social activities-bowling, bicycling, track-in-house competition, weight watchers and wellness programs should be advertised

15. Nutritional Integrity in Schools • Childhood obesity is on the increase • Children’s diet are poor • Poor diet and obesity are causing “adult diseases in children” • Generally poor and non-nutritious foods are readily available in schools • Parents are losing control of efforts to feed their children well to junk foods • Schools put fat pay cheques from the soda companies above the health of the students and their academic performance

18. Nutrition Education • Knowing what you eat is essential for healthy eating • If students know what they eat, it would promote physical activities and encourage participation • Students culture should be a factor in deciding the school nutrition environment, it should be consistent, and should be reinforced with nutrition messages