Healthy Schools Campaign

Kids Love Fruit!

by Jean Saunders, HSC School Wellness Director

According to researchers at the NPD group, fruit is the favorite snack food of children under six, followed by cookies, milk, crackers and juice.

"Kids younger than ten are motivated to choose foods in large part because they're perceived as fun and they want a treat or reward," said Harry Balzer, NPD vice president and food industry expert.

This comment goes a long way to explain the ways that adult behaviors can influence kids’ snack preferences – too often away from fruit and toward less-healthy snacks. If kids are given candy and cookies as rewards, they’ll begin to prefer those over the fruit they would otherwise naturally choose. If adults are shocked when kids want fruit – and if we comment that junk food is a fun treat – then kids’ interest in fruit is likely to dwindle.

Balzar goes on to say, "Kids account for almost one-third of all consumption of snack-oriented, convenience food products. Among those products, fruit is the top choice consumed by kids, but consumption frequency for fruit declines markedly as children age."

In her article in Food Navigator, Laura Crowley summarizes the NPD study which shows how kids’ snack preferences have changed over time.

As the parent of an eleven year old, I know that it’s up to me to help stack the odds that my son has plenty of fruit and vegetables in his diet. I have to make sure that it’s easy for him to snack on fruit. I’ve made it hard to miss the basket of fruit on the kitchen table and have strategically placed cut-up fruit and veggies in the refrigerator. With his desire for increased independence, it’s important for him to have the opportunities to make choices – and up to me to make sure that he chooses among tasty, healthy options.

Providing Fuel for Learning in the Face of Increasing Food Costs

by Erin Murphy, HSC Wellness Intern. Erin is a registered and licensed dietitian. She received her bachelor’s in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was a dietetic intern at the VA Healthcare System in San Diego and is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago where she is a candidate for a Master’s in Public Health in the Maternal and Child Health division. In addition to her work as an intern at HSC, Erin works as a dietitian.at a clinic focused on eating disorders.

MSNBC.com recently reported on the impact of rising food prices on school lunches, which will start showing its mark in some areas around the country as soon as this fall. In the article, students, parents and administrators were interviewed about how they will have to deal with the changing prices of school foods.

A student in the article was quoted as saying, “I won’t be able to eat as much or eat what I usually eat in a regular day. I’ll have to cut down.” When a student says she won’t be able to eat how she normally would on a school day, implying the need to eat less due to monetary concerns, this sounds an alarm on the food security in our country. School should be a place where the food is healthy and available, to give students enough fuel to keep their bodies running and learning throughout the day.

This is why we have the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, after all.

The National School Lunch program began to ensure the health and well-being of children to grow into healthy adults free of ailments caused by malnutrition. After seeing a relationship between physical deformities and malnutrition in men rejected from the armed forces after World War II, Congress started the National School Lunch program to supply students with meals that provided essential nutrients to grow into healthy adults.

An interesting point to note is that in 1921, Chicago was recognized by the Department of Interior, Bureau of Education as having “…the most intensive school lunch system in America.” This would be an impressive bragging right to still hold to this day.

The scary truth is that school lunches are not always as nutritious and appealing as one would hope. Schools around the country are beginning to address this issue and make it a priority (as seen in the schools attending HSC’s recent wellness workshop), but schools face so many struggles with implementing healthier environments that some schools cannot possibly transition on their own. And now, with the burden of rising food prices, this uphill battle seems to be getting a little bit steeper.

We are seeing numerous problems (financial, sustainable, and varietal) in both what we farm and what we eat in the United States. There is a new motivation for farmers to grow corn in the United States as the demand for ethanol from corn crops increases. What about the need to emphasize and motivate farmers to grow crops that produce a variety of fruits and vegetables to live a healthy life?

The motivation behind farming needs to focus on its original intention: to feed people nutritious food. And our country needs to recognize that meeting the basic needs of its people, ensuring that healthy food is available to all, is simply essential.

Children should not have to worry about receiving enough nutritious food throughout the school day; the National School Breakfast and Lunch program is here to protect them from that situation. If students are expected to perform well, they need to be provided with the fuel to do so. We need to provide a healthy school environment where they can think critically and creatively, provide access to recess and provide healthy meals. A growing body of evidence shows how significantly these simple measures support student learning. Now, we need to ensure that children aren’t denied the supports that make such a difference in their ability to fully engage and succeed at school.

Apply for This Year’s Green Cleaning in Schools Award!

by Claris Olson, HSC Environmental Health Manager

If your school excels at green cleaning, get the recognition your staff and school community deserves!

For the second year in a row, HSC will join forces with American School & University magazine and the Green Cleaning Network to present an award honoring those who show dedication and innovation related to green cleaning methods and practices. Winners will be profiled in a special issue of American School & University magazine.

Steve Ashkin, author of HSC's Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, explains why recognition for these efforts is so important:

For those of us who have spent our careers in the facilities department, we often operate as though we are invisible.  We want the occupants of our buildings to enjoy the benefits of a healthy, safe, clean, high-performing and even inspiring building, and we want them to do so without giving thought as to what it took to achieve this. 

The downside of this is that we often go unrecognized for the efforts we expend on behalf of our occupants and guests.  One of the downsides of humbly working in the background is that it tends to limit our exposure to others, even in our own profession.  As a result, innovation and true leadership is often slow to be recognized.

Take advantage of this unique chance to spotlight your hard work. Applications are due by Sept. 12, 2008 – visit AS&U's site for more information and an application.

For more on last year’s winners, click here.

P.S. Get your free copy of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools online at www.greencleanschools.org.

Healthy, Efficient and Innovative: Green Schools Legislation Draws Broad Support

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

Thanks to all the legislators who made big strides this month toward creating a high-quality learning environment for America’s public schools, reducing schools' negative impact on our environment, and keeping cash in our schools’ coffers to use for education rather than high utility bills.

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act, just passed by the House of Representatives, would provide school districts nationwide with $6.4 billion to modernize and renovate school buildings -- improving schools’ energy efficiency, bringing schools closer to green building standards, and promoting a healthier environment for students and teachers.

This act marks the first time since 2001 that schools would receive meaningful funding to upgrade facilities, and the first time ever that lawmakers have put green facilities front-and-center, a move that will save significant cash over time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient schools can reduce their energy usage by 25 percent, creating a nationwide savings of $1.25 billion and 23 million fewer tons of carbon emissions.

By 2013, 90 percent of this act’s funding would be put toward green projects, ensuring that benefits will keep rippling through school districts as they improve indoor air quality and use greener construction methods.

HSC works to promote healthy, energy efficient schools through resources such as our Guide to Healthy, High Performing Schools and events such as our recent breakfast briefing on schools and climate change. HSC also successfully advocated for legislation requiring that all new schools built in Illinois meet energy-efficient green design standards.

We applaud the lawmakers who supported this important federal legislation, and look forward to continuing the work of helping schools protect our environment while providing the best possible learning experiences for children.

Food for Thought -- and School Board Action

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

I couldn’t have said it better. 

The June 08 issue of American Schools, the monthly publication of the American School Board Association, focuses on school food.  One of the articles, “Children’s Nutrition is a Governance Issue”  is written by David Tokofsky, a former teacher,  Los Angeles Unified School board member and board member of  the California School Boards Association. The article encourages school board members to give serious attention to their district’s school food program because of the important role that nutrition can play in a child’s performance at school. 

He points out that schools seem to acknowledge the importance of breakfast, as many school districts offer breakfast on test days.   He asks his readers, “What about non-test days when the children are expected to learn the information for the test?”  (This reminds me of HSC wellness director Jean Saunders’ blog on test-day snacks.)

He also makes the point that a board’s key responsibility is as custodian of public money.  This fiduciary responsibility requires school board members to understand the school food budget and review the operations of the school’s food program with thoroughness and care. 

I was especially pleased that Mr. Tokofsky recognized the importance of school food staff.  He suggests that a well-paid and well-trained staff is an important element to a successful school food program.

“It is not surprising when well-trained employees with a sense of ownership about their work actually reduce costs,” he writes. 

Thank you, Mr. Tokofsky, for providing such good food for thought. 

What a Good Idea!

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

I recently came across a job posting for a Farm-to-School Coordinator for the state of Washington.  What a good idea!  How sensible, with today’s concerns about childhood obesity and high energy prices, to prioritize farm to school programs and hire a coordinator to ensure that the initiatives are successful and effective.

What do childhood obesity and high energy prices have to do with each other?

As the position description says, “This position will lead the new state Farm-to-School Program (created by SB 6483) to increase the purchase of Washington-grown foods by Washington schools, thereby improving student nutrition and benefiting local farmers.”

Schools, farmers, public health advocates and policy makers are beginning to recognize the value of local procurement programs to bring the freshest, healthiest fruit and vegetables to our children at school. 

As we all know, getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables is an important challenge in combating the obesity epidemic -- and what better way than to provide them with the freshest and most tasty produce available?   

In addition to the benefits for student nutrition, we know that local procurement (or “farm to school”) programs benefit local economies and support local farmers.

Since most food travels more than 3,000 miles from farm to plate, these initiatives are taking on even greater importance.  With food prices raising as a result of higher transportation costs, local procurement programs are increasingly making the most economic sense for schools. 

We applaud the state of Washington for recognizing the many benefits of farm to school programs and taking the very sensible step of making local procurement a priority.

Danger in the EXIT Sign

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

Did you know that many self-luminous EXIT signs commonly found in schools and other public places contain radioactive tritium that can create harmful exposures to humans? The dangerous exposure can occur if signs leak and when they are disposed of.

The issue of dangerous chemicals inside the ubiquitous EXIT sign highlights the need for us to consider the possible health impact of each detail that goes into a school building. Children are especially vulnerable to this type of exposure.

If you would like to learn more, check out this online course offered by the US. EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. 

Workshop Highlights Enthusiasm for Healthy Food and Fitness in Schools

by Erin Murphy, HSC Wellness Intern

Last Thursday, educators, administrators and food service professionals came together to attend the Food & Fitness in Schools: Lessons from Charter Public School Innovators workshop presented by HSC and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS).

Guests were greeted with a healthy breakfast of muffins, yogurt, cheese, bagels and a variety of fruit. This breakfast, provided by Sodexho, is typical of what one can find in an elementary school that has joined the movement of offering healthier and more appealing meals to students (including some of the schools represented by the workshop’s panel of speakers).

After grabbing something to eat and settling in, audience members were greeted by Elizabeth Evans, executive director of INCS, and HSC’s Jean Saunders. The two set the tone for the event by discussing how wellness, in the form of physical activity and healthy food, affects students’ performance in the classroom.

Dr. Darla Castelli, assistant professor in the department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois, presented an exciting and powerful presentation on the effects of physical activity on academic achievement.

Dr. Castelli discussed the ways in which research-based literature demonstrates that physical activity throughout the day can greatly improve academic achievement. What really stood out about her presentation were the numerous ways in which kids, living and learning in any kind of environment, can be physically active during the school day. Her presentation was full of information that was simple yet powerful enough for all audiences, and provided access to tools which teachers and administrators can utilize to improve physical activity for their students.

After Dr. Castelli’s presentation was a panel discussion featuring of administrators from charter schools throughout Chicago that have made the transition to serving fresh, healthy food. Panel members included Marc Arakelian of Perspectives Charter Schools; Bob Nardo of the Noble Network of Charter Schools; Alison Slade of Namaste Charter School and Soyini Walton of the Betty Shabazz International Charter School.

The panelists provided candid information about what has worked in implementing a healthy school food program, from the start-up to the ongoing challenges of maintaining it. They also discussed the outcomes and benefits of providing a healthy school environment to students. There were a lot of lessons to learn from this panel, and the questions and conversations were full of energy. The excitement in the room was noticeable as people wanted to pick the brains of the panel members all morning. The interest in communication and follow-up among those in attendance became clear.

The final speaker was Melissa Ritter from the Farm to Table Lunch Program at the Prairie Crossing Charter School. She provided background regarding the roots of the farm to school movement, and also provided insight as to why these types of programs are important.

The conversations continued as the event wrapped up, and the enthusiasm in the room didn’t dwindle a bit.

The enthusiasm at this event highlighted how important it is for school leaders to have a place to share ideas and work together toward the goals of providing fresh, healthy food and plentiful physical activity for students. HSC is working to address this need by developing new opportunities for communication and discussion, places where school leaders can ask and answer questions and share ideas.

We are inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of the school leaders we met at this event, and look forward to working together to create exciting new school wellness programs.

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The articles below are part of a growing body of research documenting the connection between children’s health and their readiness to learn. Several attendees at the workshop mentioned an interest in additional resources and academic references on this topic; we hope you find these resources valuable!

Energizers
http://www.ncpe4me.com/energizers.html
A list of energizers which integrate physical activity and learning. These can be utilized during the school day to help improve attention.

TAKE 10!
http://www.take10.net/whatistake10.asp?page=new
Curricular activities to be used during the school day to combine physical activity and learning for grades kindergarten through fifth. TAKE 10! ® activities during academic time have reduced behavior referrals and increased attention.         

Florence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet quality and academic performance. The Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-15; quiz 239-41.
Florence, Asbridge and Veugelers illustrate the connection between quality of food and performance in school. This research helps to further the support that providing a healthy school food environment and access to high quality foods may lead to improvements in academic performance, and overall health.       

Fu, M. L., Cheng, L., Tu, S. H., & Pan, W. H. (2007). Association between unhealthful eating patterns and unfavorable overall school performance in children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(11), 1935-1943.
Fu et al. discuss eating patterns and their connection to school performance in elementary school-aged children. Though the data collected in this article reflects eating patterns of children from Taiwan, it is plausible that results from this study could accurately reflect that of children in the United States given the obesity epidemic occurring globally.                   

Settings, M. (2006). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Local support for nutrition integrity in schools. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106(1), 122-133.
A position paper from the ADA expressing views toward a comprehensive school nutrition program which includes providing high-quality food, nutrition education, addressing policy issues, and finding support from various stakeholders.         

Wagner, B., Senauer, B., & Runge, C. F. (2007). An empirical analysis of and policy recommendations to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. Review of Agricultural Economics, 29(4), 672-688.
Wagner, Senauer and Runge explore reasons why schools are unable to meet nutrition standard requirements for meals offered at schools as stated in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To develop a better picture of the problem, the researchers explored various hypotheses as to why this is a problem that included: student food preference/demand in relation to nutritional quality, cost of meal production, facilities required for food production, and indirect costs.

Good News and Bad News in New Childhood Obesity Data

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

Last week the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an important paper about the trends in childhood obesity.  Dr. Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, MD, MPH, the Medical/Research Director for the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) offered this useful analysis of the data:

This week, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an important paper about trends in childhood obesity in the US, entitled, High body mass index for age among US children and adolescents, 2003-2006. The study, by a group at the National Center for Health Statistics led by Cynthia Ogden, PhD, contains some good news, some bad news, and, of course, some questions that remain unanswered. CLOCC members -- and others working to combat the childhood obesity epidemic -- need to be familiar with all of these.

The good news is that childhood obesity rates have been stable for almost a decade. Analysis of 4 waves of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2006) shows that levels of overweight and obesity have been stable during this time for several groups defined by age, sex, and race/ ethnicity.  Thus the rapid rise in rates that occurred between the 1970s and the 1990s has slowed, if not ended. (Earlier analyses, which did not include the latest data, indicated that rates rose through 2003-2004, but this stronger analysis does not support that finding.)

The bad news has at least three parts. First, rates remain high, particularly for the most obese.  This study reports on rates of BMI above the 85th, 95th, and 97th percentiles for age and sex. The NHANES data on children ages 2-19 years allow for 2005-2006 national estimates: 11% above the 97th percentile, 15% above the 95th percentile, and 30% above the 85th percentile. The percentile norms are from years before rising child obesity, so the recent levels are well above historical ones. Further, about 2/3 of those with BMIs above the 95th percentile have BMIs above the 97th percentile, indicating much severe obesity.

Second, disparities remain by age and race/ethnicity.  In general, rates of overweight are higher for older children than for preschoolers, and higher for minorities than for white children. For example: Among Mexican American boys, those above the 97th percentile BMI included 16% of 2-5 year olds, 21% of 6-11 year olds, and 16% of 12-19 year olds. Among 12-19 year olds, those above the 97th percentile BMI included 20% of non-Hispanic black girls, 18% of Mexican American boys, and 9% of white girls.

Third, NHANES is not designed to provide data at the State or City level. Thus we do not know if the national rates reported in this study apply directly to Chicago and Illinois.

By promoting healthy food and physical activity in schools, HSC continues our efforts to combat the health disparities and very high rates of childhood obesity that affect today’s students.

Study Links Exercise in Adolescence to Lower Rates of Breast Cancer

by Rochelle Davis, HSC Founding Executive Director

We all know that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  At HSC, we are strong advocates of incorporating physical activity into the school day. 

It was interesting to see a new study which documents that women who were physically active as teens and young adults were 23 percent less likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer than women who grew up sedentary.

As research continues to document the many, many benefits of physical activity, it’s our work to ensure that all students have the opportunity to be active.