Improving Nutrition and Health of School-Aged Children “School … · 2014. 7. 28. · Transition in Eating Patterns Over the last 30 years change in nutrition related problems

Improving Nutrition and Health of School-Aged Children

“School Meal Programmes”

Isabella Granderson Faculty of Food and Agriculture

UWI, St. Augustine Campus

Outline

¨ History of School Meal Programmes

¨ Transition of Eating Habits

¨ Benefits of School Meal Programmes

¨ Barriers to Improving Nutrition and Health

¨ CNH Interventions Preliminary Outcomes

¨ Recommendations

History of School Meal Programmes

¨ The recognition of the role of good nutrition in the early years of life dates back to the 18th century

q The main nutrition concerns were hunger and malnutrition (protein-calorie malnutrition)

q Feeding the needy, weak and sick children were

carried out by private charitable organizations and persons Copyright 2012 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved.

www.schoolnutrition.org

In Norway: ¨ “The Oslo Breakfast” : 1/2 pint milk, whole meal bread, cheese, 1/2 orange and 1/2 apple

¨ September to March: one dose of cod-liver oil reported: “Children were free from the usual skin complaints, and boys gained in height 26 percent more than those not participating in the experiment”



¨ Initiatives in the Region: - Introduction: An Enriched Bun and a glass of Milk - Introduction of the MULTI –MIX PRINCIPLES

Copyright 2012 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Transition in Eating Patterns

Over the last 30 years change in nutrition related problems :

¨ Decline in malnutrition

¨ Anemia remains a Public Health issue

¨ Obesity and it’s nutrition related lifestyle diseases affect many adults and is increasing among children and adolescents


School Meal Programmes (SNPs)

¨ It is now recognized that nutritional problems in children cover a wider spectrum than when SNPs began.

¨ The philosophy and strategies employed in SNPs have broadened considerable worldwide ¨ As a result it is well established that SNPs can no

longer be limited to the provision of meals, but be set in the context of a broader approach:

School Meal Programmes (SNPs)

¨ School-based nutrition and agriculture education

¨ Increased access to healthy foods and ¨ A supportive environment at school, home and within

communities

¨ Be seen as a vehicle for improving nutrition and health


Nutrition Guidelines

¨ Recommended Dietary Allowances ¤¼ RDA for Breakfast ¤ 1/3 RDA for Lunch

¨ Calorie Goals ¤ Age appropriate: 1600 -Preschool; 2200 School aged

children ¤ Dietary/Food Based Guidelines for the CARIBBEAN

Food Based Guidelines

¨ Eat a variety of Foods ¨ Use Less salt ¨ Eat foods that are low in fat ¨ Use less fats and oils ¨ Exercise daily


Nutrient Standards

¨ Calories ¨ Protein ¨ Vitamin A ¨ Vitamin C ¨ Calcium ¨ Iron

¨ Fat: ≤ 30% of Total Calories ¨ Saturated Fat: < 10% of Total Calories

Poorly Nourished Children

¨ Less physically active

¨ Less curious

¨ Less attentive: more likely to have symptoms of behavioural problems

¨ Higher levels of anxious, irritable, aggressive and oppositional behaviours

¨ Less independent

School Meal Programmes

¨ Supports the achievement of the following Millennium Development Goals

¨ Eradication of poverty and hunger

¨ Achieve universal primary education

¨ Reduce child mortality; gender parity and offer multiple benefits Copyright 2012 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved.


Benefits of School Meal Programmes

¨ Education - increases enrolment and attendance especially among high risk children - Positively affects children’s cognitive development and academic achievement ¨ Nutrition: - fight malnutrition and a lack of essential micronutrients that can curb development

Copyright 2012 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved.



- make substantial contributions to school-aged children’s diets; higher overall nutrient intakes

(USDA study) - An important tool to help our children make life

long healthy eating choices (through access to safe, nutritious, and balanced meals)

- When properly planned and implemented, promotes healthy eating behaviour



¨ Health

- Positively impact children well-being - Associated with significantly lower body mass index - A platform for directly addressing child health and other health interventions



¨ Social Protection

- Acts as safety for the household - Relieve time pressure from parents, especially

single parents, and families where both parents work outside the home

- Assist families to educate their children and protect food security



¨ Local agricultural production

- not only benefit children, but farmers, communities Opens new markets and the possibility of higher

incomes for family farmers while boosting local development

- foster local agricultural development when food is

sourced from family farmers - Promotes consumptions of fresh and healthy foods

Copyright 2012 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved.



¨ Reduces food insecurity: - It deprives the body of nutrients necessary for proper mental and physical development - Crates an atmosphere of stress and uncertainty that affects a child’s desire to attend school and perform well

¨ Lack of supervision ¨ Cost per meal


Community Nutrition and Health Interventions: Preliminary Findings

¨ Trinidad:

Nutrition Education and Menu Modification ¨ St. Kitts:

Menu Modification


Community Nutrition and Health Interventions: Preliminary Findings

¨ Better and improved meal acceptance when education is provided

¨ Supervision increase acceptance

¨ Increased Alertness (heads bent on desk after lunch time)

¨ Reduced plate waste

¨ 90% consumption of fruits and 60 -65% for vegetables

¨ Peaked interest in school gardening


Barriers to Improving Nutrition and Health

¨ Competing Interest – fundraisers, food items sold at schools

¨ Spending money

¨ Poor participation and lack of interest by some parents

¨ School environment

¨ Availability and access to a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables

Barriers to Improving Nutrition and Health

¨ Unscheduled school events and holidays ¨ Staff changes ¨ Training for staff (Quantity Food Preparation &

Recipe standardization)


A comprehensive policy that promotes healthy eating, and a supportive school

environment


Recommendations

Recommendations

¨ Involvement of Governments, parliamentarians, international organizations, private sector, educational communities and civil society

¨ Develop appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for local producers to supply food for government networks


Recommendations

q Implementation of nutrition standards for all foods in accordance with the Dietary or Food-based

guidelines: less fat, sodium, concentrated sweets q Encourage and support school garden programmes

q Provide nutrition personnel in schools to supervise, and monitor compliance

Recommendations

Curricula that includes healthy diets and promotes physical activity. School food service and nutrition education Integrated Family and community involvement


Recommendations

¨ Establishment of a farm to school initiative to help schools improve the health and well-being of their students and connect with local agricultural producers

¨ Promote opportunities for nutrition and agriculture education and new economic opportunities for food producers of all kind and communities


¨ THANK YOU


Documents

Improving Nutrition and Health of School-Aged Children “School … · 2014. 7. 28. · Transition in Eating Patterns Over the last 30 years change in nutrition related problems