1 School Nutrition: Progress made, challenges faced, and Messages needed Jessica Donze Black Kids Safe and Healthful Foods Project

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School Nutrition: Progress made, challenges

faced, and Messages needed

Jessica Donze Black

Kids Safe and Healthful Foods Project

www.healthyschoolfoodsnow.org

@Jdonzeblack_Pew

http://www.healthyschoolfoodsnow.org/

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Why do we care about school nutrition?

Because it influences children’s health• Most children consume up to ½ of their calories in school.• Serving healthier meals and snacks leads to healthier

diets. • Children who consume school meals consume more fruits,

vegetables, whole grains and lowfat dairy than those who do not.

• Setting healthy standards for snack and a la carte foods in schools could significantly reduce the risk of obesity and chronic disease.

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And Healthier Students are better learners

• Obesity is a predictor of absenteeism. • Healthy nutrition status is linked to

– better attendance– fewer visits to the nurse– better test scores.

• student participation in subsidized federal school meals programs—particularly school breakfast programs—is linked to

– improved learning readiness and academic achievement

– fewer discipline and emotional problems.

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What are talking about when we talk about school nutrition?

School Meals

• Started in 1946• Subsidized by USDA• Standards have always

been set up USDA and updated over time to reflect changing needs of young people nutrition science.

• Breakfast• Lunch

“Competitive Foods”

• “Compete with meals for kids appetites and money.

• Vending• School stores• A la carte• Fundraisers• Everything not in a

meal

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The Big Picture

• Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (Child Nutrition Reauthorization) passed in 2010

• Directed USDA to update school meals standards AND “snack” standards.

• Institute of Medicine made Recommendations.

• USDA issued updated meal standards in 2012 and updated snack standards in 2013.

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School Meals• More Fruits and vegetables with more

variety • Whole grains• Lower sodium• Lower fat• Calorie minimums and maximums• Started implementing 2012 school year• >90% of districts are “certified” as meeting

the standards and are receiving additional reimbursement.

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Smart Snacks

• Standards issued in June of 2013 and implemented starting in 2014.

• Based on state policies and other models• Minimum standards• Applicable to foods sold during school day.• <200 calories, <35% calories from fat, <10%

calories from sat. fat, 0 transfat, <225 mg sodium,

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How is it going?

• 90% of schools are implementing updated nutrition standards for lunch (more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, less fat, less sodium, etc.)

• 3 out of 4 of parents indicate support for strong nutrition standards in schools

• 70% of School Administrators like the nutrition standards and most say that some students complained at first but most are now pretty happy with them.

• 1000’s of schools were made these changes before they were even required and are serving as role models.

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BUT…

• Variable success with implementation• Some challenges have lead groups to push

back on having to meet nutrition standards.

Issue of Interest Parent Support

Sodium limits 75%

Whole grains 64%

Fruits and vegetables 91%

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And Politics have Muddied the Policy Debate

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A Few Points Worth Noting Child nutrition has historically been a

bipartisan issue. The 2010 reauthorization passed with unanimous consent in the Senate!

The USDA has been setting standards since 1946 when the program was first launched.

School lunch and breakfast are a $15 billion program. States and localities fund <10% of total costs.

Those meeting updated standards get additional reimbursement.

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So where are we now?

• Continued implementation of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act– Smart Snacks Finalization– Wellness Policies

• Child Nutrition due for reauthorization

• Appropriations is always in play

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What Congress Needs to Hear from You

Maintain science-based nutrition standards for school foods.

– School nutrition departments have the flexibility they need to serve healthy and appealing meals their kids will eat and enjoy.

– Three out of four parents support the current national nutrition standards.

– Allowing schools to opt out of these nutrition standards would undermine parental trust in the program.

– If we want to help all students succeed then we need to support schools in being successful rather than lowering the bar.

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How Can they Help Support Schools?• Support school kitchen infrastructure

and equipment needs

• Ensure school food service professionals have access to adequate training and technical assistance

• Encourage parental and student involvement in the process!

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What Else Can you Do?

• Support implementation locally and in your state• Ready for Wellness policy updates

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QUESTIONS?

Jessica Donze Black

[email protected]

www.healthyschoolfoodsnow.org follow us at : @jdonzeblack_pew

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.healthyschoolfoodsnow.org/

PTA’s Role with Smart Snacks in School

Stephanie SimmsSchool Nutrition Policy FellowNational PTA

Policies Supporting Smart Snacks: Fundraisers

• 27 states are not creating exemption policies which means all fundraisers held during the defined school day on the school campus that involves selling foods or beverages to students, must meet the Smart Snacks guidelines

Source: National Association of State Boards of Education

Policies Supporting Smart Snacks: Fundraisers• Colorado: Up to three fundraising exemptions

per school building (duration determined by LEA) in 2014-2015 school year.

• *However, the duration must comply with the intent of the legislation to increase the consumption of healthy foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits.

Source: Pew Charitable Trusts & the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation


• Kansas: Each school organization can hold one exempt fundraiser per semester that cannot exceed two days.

• *At the exemplary level:• There are no exempt fundraisers• Fundraising must support messaging about

physical activity, nutrition, and nutrition education.



• Anderson, SC: As part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy School Program this district adopted a healthy fundraising component which required fundraisers to be physically active or the foods or beverages being sold must meet the USDA Smart Snacks Standards.


• Oklahoma City, OK: Measures put in place to support healthy fundraising and by 2017-2018 school year if fundraisers involve foods and beverages they must be health-promoting and they should meet the guidelines set forth for food and beverage options beyond school food services.


• Monterey, CA: only foods and beverages meeting the Smart Snacks guidelines can be sold to students during fundraisers.

• Based on their Local Wellness Policy & resources are provided for healthy fundraisers and calculating if an item meets the guidelines.

Policies Supporting Smart Snacks:Food Marketing

• Nevada• Only foods/beverages that meet Smart

Snacks is allowed for marketing on the school campus. Applies to all advertising or promotions including visual, oral, or written.


PTA’s Supporting Smart Snacks

• Greenville, SC: Students Adjust to Healthy School Snacks (school store)

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/education/2014/10/03/greenville-county-school-students-adjust-healthy-school-snacks/16646521/





• Kansas City, KS


• Corpus Christi, TX• “Wacky Wednesday” • Foods sold prior to Smart Snacks: soda, nachos,

other unhealthy snacks• All foods sold now meet the Smart Snacks

guidelines; fruit, granola bars, etc.• Increased profits and “making the right choices

for the children in school”


• Littleton, CO• PTA Parent began a Healthy Schools

Committee last year and it now has 17 members

• This PTA has stopped all food-based fundraisers

• Activity club, running club, indoor recess kits for every classroom


• Indianapolis, IN


• Peckville, PA• Race for Education• The first time the race was held, they earned

double what they normally would on a candy sale

• On a continual basis, the fundraiser is earning the same if not more than previously held unhealthy fundraisers


• Throop, PA• Craft Fair- Middle School• Includes five fundraisers in one event and

involves the community which has been very supportive!

• Approximately $5,000 raised compared to a candy sale held in November which raised $543.20.


• Conifer, CO• Health & Wellness Committee joined PTA• Changes to Fall Social Dance- Smoothie Bar,

Veggie Trays, Oatmeal Bites• Honor Roll Ceremony Gift Bags – Healthy

Foods to Fuel Your Body• “Gratitude for your healthy attitude” baskets

Ways PTA Can Support School Nutrition Policies

• Incorporate foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks guidelines into PTA events

• Role model for students• Identify a contact person who will ensure

compliance of Smart Snacks school administrator, PTA member, Health & Wellness Committee


• Work with the school nutrition staff to understand how PTA can support them in gaining acceptance of the new standards

• Cater with School Nutrition Staff for PTA events• Highlight new foods to be served at Back to

School nights • Open dialogue with school staff


• Support schools in implementing the changes to provide healthier foods and beverages to every student

• Local Wellness Policies• Healthy or Non-food fundraisers

Smart Snacks Resources from PTA

• Smart Snacks webpage: www.pta.org/smartsnacks• National PTA Implementation Guide, “A PTA’s Guide to Smart

Snacks in Schools” was distributed to all state and local PTAs in mid-October

• Tip Sheets for Healthier School Foods• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Product Navigator &

Calculator• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Model Wellness Policy• Smart Snacks Information from USDA• Slides from webinars (Overview & Healthy Fundraising)

http://www.pta.org/smartsnacks

Questions?

• If you have additional questions that were not answered during the presentation, please contact the School Nutrition Policy Fellow at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

1 School Nutrition: Progress made, challenges faced, and Messages needed Jessica Donze Black Kids Safe and Healthful Foods Project