Healthy Schools Campaign

Friday Recipe: Kohlrabi Pizza

By Lana Buseman

Last summer I was walking around a farmers market in Chicago and came across fresh kohlrabi. I had never tasted this vegetable and didn’t know what to do with it, but I bought some and set about discovering how to eat it. After some quick research I found that this alien-looking veggie has a very similar taste profile to broccoli; however, it is much more mild in flavor and more comparable to a broccoli stem. Kohlrabi can be eaten cooked or raw. With its apple-like texture, it is a great source of fiber and potassium which both aid in proper digestion.

After tasting the kohlrabi, I decided to try a play on one of my favorite foods, broccoli pizza. Broccoli pizza might not sound great to non-broccoli lovers but substituting in the kohlrabi makes a pizza that is much milder in veggie flavor and extra delicious.

Kohlrabi pizza is a fun dinner to make with kids. The veggie's unusual shape gives it an extra element of intrigue, and the pizza-making itself is easy for even very young chefs.

Let everyone build his or her own kohlrabi pizzas by starting with individual-size whole-wheat pizza breads. You can find these in the bread aisle at your grocery store. Use your favorite tomato sauce to start building your pie. Pour two tablespoons of sauce in the middle of your pizza bread and spread out to the edges with the back of a spoon in a circular motion. To prep your kohlrabi, you need to cut the skinny stems sprouting off of it and peel off the thin outer layer. Then slice it in thin wedges to top your pizza. Be sure to slice the kohlrabi very thin so it will cook all the way through in the oven. Let everyone layer their own kohlrabi and sprinkle with fresh basil and shredded mozzarella. Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted, and let everyone dig into their pizzas!

Plus: In this blog, HSC's Mark Bishop highlights recent research showing that kids prefer veggies with silly super-hero names. What amazing name will you and your kids come up with for kohlrabi?

Tomorrow, “Making the Financial Case for Green Cleaning” Concludes Green Cleaning Webinar Series

We’ve been happy to host the second annual Green Cleaning Webinar Series. These practical online seminars featured national leaders and on-the-ground experts on green cleaning in schools. Each webinar, offered free of charge, shared strategies to help you start or enhance a current green cleaning program.

On Wednesday, “Making the Financial Case for Green Cleaning” speakers will discuss the financial benefits of green cleaning and share strategies they have identified for saving in product and labor costs. Speakers will share their own stories of implementing cost-effective green cleaning programs.

Speakers include Andi Lee-Marnicio of Blackhawk Intermediate School, Mark Bishop of Healthy Schools Campaign, and Patrick Pizzo of East Meadow Union Free School District.

This webinar is sponsored by

Bonus: Missed one of our green cleaning webinars? Check out the archived sessions here.

Be sure to join the conversation on Twitter! Follow @healthyschools and use #greenclean2012 to send in your questions and comments during the session.

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Plus: Sign up for our green cleaning newsletter for the latest updates in the green cleaning industry.

Do you have an extraordinary green cleaning program? Apply for the Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities.

Go for The Gold: “Our Health Creates Who We Are and Our Success”

As part of our Go for the Gold celebration, students created artwork and wrote essays about health and wellness at their school.

In her essay, South Loop Elementary eighth grader Mariama Diallo discusses the role school wellness plays in shaping healthy habits and a better future. She takes pride in her healthy school community.

Diallo writes:

For starters, South Loop provides healthy school meals for its 800 students. Daily, a free breakfast is provided to students and we are given the opportunity to choose from a hot  or a cold breakfast. This way, students that were rapidly leaving their homes still have a chance to enjoy the most important meal of the day. . . Next, not only do we have physical education, health, and other sports programs, but we also provide recess. Those extra twenty minutes of freedom mean a lot to children; it provides us with time to run around and exercise daily. This is strongly important in a child and adult’s perspective because it helps engage children into activity and participating and exercising with others. Nothing is possibly healthier than providing kids with the environment’s fresh air and plants.

All in all, when it comes to health, we children and adults should strive in pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Our health creates who we are and our success. We have the choice to be healthy.

South Loop was one of 37 Chicago schools recognized for meeting the high standards of the HealthierUS School Challenge in spring 2012. The K-8 school received the Bronze Award.

Stay posted for more student art and essays from this celebration!

Physical Activity Boost: Walk a New Walk

By Lizzy Parker, HSC communications intern

Lizzy Parker is a rising junior at Colorado College with a passion for health and fitness. In January of 2012, she became a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. As an intern at HSC this summer, she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for and knowledge about physical activity—and, that it can be fun!

Most exercise enthusiasts choose running as their preferred form of cardio.  However, new research shows that walking can in many ways be equally, or more, beneficial to your health.  A daily walk with your family is a wonderful habit to get into. If walking seems like a dull form of exercise for your high-energy kids, think again. You can vary your walking routine in a number of fun ways to keep everyone interested! Try these ideas: 

• Change up your speed. If you are walking at a pace that feels a little too comfortable, push yourself. Pump those arms and move those legs. Believe me, power walking is no joke when done for a few miles. You will be sure to raise your heart rate and work up a sweat.

• One word: hills. Hiking is one of my absolute favorite forms of exercise because it is just walking at an incline. Though a small change, the angle will activate muscles in your glutes, quadriceps, calves, and core that walking on flat ground cannot target. No mountains? No problem. Find the largest hill near you and walk up as quickly as you can for at least ten rounds. Focus on keeping your core tight, your shoulders retracted for good posture, and really be conscious of not leaning too far forward. Leaning forward too much will put pressure on your lower back, which is not good.

• If you are a little more advanced, consider adding interval training to your repertoire. Really anyone can do interval training because it can be scaled to individual skill level or age group. To start, alternate three minutes of walking with one minute of a higher-impact exercise. Some ideas: power walking, bear crawls, high knees, crab walks, skipping, frog jumps, squats and walking lunges. All of these movements are called “compound exercises.” This means that they do not target one particular muscle; instead, several muscle groups must work together. Compound exercises enhance your functionality, i.e. your ability to recruit your muscles to work more quickly and more efficiently. 

• Add some resistance. Carry a weighted backpack filled with . . . whatever heavy objects you have handy! Canned goods work perfectly. Added resistance benefits bone and joint health, and strengthens stabilizer muscles in the ankles, knees, and core. 

Walking is a highly accessible form of exercise and best of all, it is easily adapted to any fitness level.  So grab a partner and hit the ground. . . walking!

Disclaimer: The recommendations on this blog are not meant to be a substitute for recommendations from your physician. Take care to consult with your physician if you have questions or concerns about beginning a new exercise regimen. As always, if something hurts, don’t do it. Know your body’s limits and refrain for pushing yourself too far, too fast. 

Celebrate and Support Healthy Eating for Kids with Purple Asparagus’ Corks & Crayons

HSC’s friends at Purple Asparagus are doing great work for kids’ health -- they bring exciting and delicious hands-on nutrition education to classrooms, farmers’ markets and beyond. That’s why we’re excited that this weekend brings an opportunity to support Purple Asparagus at the eighth annual Corks & Crayons event.

Corks & Crayons is Purple Asparagus’ signature annual fun-for-all-ages event. Taking place in the gorgeous Greenhouse Loft and hosted by Michael Moody, NBC's Biggest Loser Chicago Tour fitness expert, this year’s event will feature tastings from some of Chicago’s top chefs including Top Chef contestants Heather Terhune (Sable) and Richie Farina (Moto), and Mindy Segal, winner of the 2012 James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry (Hot Chocolate).

The event will feature activities to keep the entire family entertained including a mini farmer’s market, tours of the LEED Certified Green Exchange, a photo booth, a silent auction, raffle prize drawings, art projects for the kids, and the revealing of the winner of Michael Moody’s Redefine Yourself Fitness Challenge!

Corks & Crayons will take place at Greenhouse Loft in the Green Exchange on 2545 W. Diversey in Chicago on Sunday, August 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets and proceeds from the Corks & Crayons event directly support Purple Asparagus’ educational programs. For more information, please visit CorksAndCrayons.com.

You can also support Purple Asparagus through their online auction here.

Fit to Learn Graduates Share Tips for School Health and Wellness

Earlier this summer, a small group of Chicago teachers completed HSC’s Fit to Learn program. The professional development program focused on practical approaches to making health and wellness a regular part of the classroom experience.

Amy Andrews, a third grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, found the Fit to Learn workshops to be helpful in building lessons and sharing resources with her students. After participating in the program, Andrews created a “Tasty Tuesday” program to incorporate nutrition education into her classroom. She also provided opportunities for physical activity in her classroom and urged students to commit to physical activity.

When Andrews created opportunities for movement, she observed more focused students. “The kids said during ISAT, [those mind and body breaks] really helped them. It was the first time I really heard their point of view. They feel calmer and more confident,” she said.

Graduates explained that their experience showed them how important it is to engage parents and fellow educators in fostering a culture of wellness throughout the school. “You have to get other teachers on board,” said John T. McCutcheon Elementary School teacher Karen Jasinski. “You also want parents on board. You need both, [because] we set the example. If we’re telling them not to have hot chips and pop and then they see us with pop, then it’s not going to be effective.” To make this connection, Jasinski also invited nutritionists to facilitate six popular parent workshops to demonstrate how to make home meals healthier.

We look forward to hearing more from Fit to Learn alums in the coming school year. Kudos to all the Fit to Learn graduates!

Go for the Gold: "Helping Us Be the Best Every Day"

As part of our Go for the Gold celebration, students created artwork and wrote essays about health and wellness at their school.

In this essay, Chancez Sims, a seventh-grade student at Morton School of Excellence, talks about the importance of being healthy and what his school does to promote wellness.

He writes:

My school, Morton School of Excellence, helps me to be healthy in ways like providing healthy meals with fruits and vegetables, and a fitness center. I also have good role models of eating healthy and living healthy with healthy choices. They also have healthy snacks like raisins and sunflower seeds which provide energy so we can stay active and be better thinkers. We also have many sports teams to choose from to keep us moving on a daily basis. When we do sports, we learn to warm up before we start so we don’t injure any muscles or bones. . . My school monitors what we eat which is good, there is no junk food being sold there and our cafeteria is giving us more healthy food options. It is not all about the food. We also do exercises and have recess. At recess we go to the playground and work every part of our bodies. In our school the teachers exercise our minds so that we can be good thinkers and successful.

Morton School of Excellence was one of 37 Chicago schools recognized for meeting the high standards of the HealthierUS School Challenge in spring 2012. Morton received the Gold Award.

Kudos, Chancez! We’re looking forward to sharing more youth voices.

Stay posted for more student art and essays from this celebration!

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To learn more about Go for the Gold, visit www.goforthegoldCPS.org.

Wellness Team Spotlight: Robinson Elementary School

Although he is retired, South side resident and Parents United for Healthy Schools member Lorenzo Young volunteers in his community and also serves as a Local School Council community engagement representative for Jackie Robinson Elementary School. Through his work with the community partner Centers for New Horizons, Young became involved with Parents United for Healthy Schools.

Earlier this summer, the Bronzeville native attended the coalition’s Parent Leadership Summit with fellow parents and Robinson principal Sonja Spiller. There, he expressed his excitement to build a healthy school community.


Robinson Elementary's wellness team plans health-promoting activities throughout the school year. Here, the team is recognized at the annual Parents United for Healthy Schools summit.

Jackie Robinson Elementary School is a K-3 school with about 125 students. The smaller school community allows parents, school administrators, and community partners to have a hands-on approach, he said. Mr. Young serves on the school’s wellness team, which includes three parents as well as the principal, dining manager and teaching staff. The team plans health and wellness activities throughout the school year.

“Health and wellness activities and education are a priority here, because we want our children to live long, healthy lives physically and emotionally,” said Mr. Young. “We are starting now to give them the knowledge to live healthy lifestyles with healthy eating and physical habits which they will demonstrate and share with their families, friends and community.”

The school recently implemented a “No Junk Food” policy to encourage parents and students to seek out healthy options for classroom celebrations. The school also creates workshops to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Jackie Robinson Elementary School was one of 37 schools recognized for meeting the high standards of the HealthierUS School Challenge in 2012. Robinson received the Gold award.

Kudos to the Robinson wellness team!

Healthy Lunch on the Go: Salad in a Jar

by Lana Buseman

I love being able to pack a salad for lunch or a picnic -- however, I do not love the soggy lettuce and limp vegetables that I often find after the salad has been sitting for a while. I came across this great way to store a salad that can be made in advance and kept fresh and crisp until you are ready to dig in.

Ingredients

• 1 clean tomato sauce jar
• Your favorite salad ingredients

Directions

The key to making this storage system work is to pour your dressing in first. Create a small layer of dressing at the bottom of the jar.

Next, layer a very hearty vegetable on top of the dressing. I used mushrooms, but other good options would be carrots or sliced bell peppers.

Continue to add your ingredients in layers, leaving the lettuce for the top.

When you are ready to eat, just empty your jar into a large bowl or a plate -- all your ingredients (including still-crispy lettuce) will pour out in the order you need!

Enjoy your healthy lunch or picnic!

Millions of Children, Teachers, and Staff are Returning to School. Are They in the Buildings They Need and Deserve?

Today, we share a special message from our friends at 21st Century School Fund. 

On the first day of school, our school buildings and grounds are always at their best. Our school staff, service providers, municipal agencies and community volunteers all work together to make sure classrooms are clean, grass is cut and flower beds are mulched; small repairs are done; paint is applied; mechanical systems are ready; and supplies and materials are in place for the millions of teachers and students who will attend our schools over the next school year. Construction crews that have been doing major projects over the summer are on long shifts to make sure the construction crews can leave and the children can arrive. 

Let's celebrate the 2012-2013 opening of the school year, but also examine whether we are really doing all we should to make sure we have healthy and safe school buildings and grounds that advance education quality and equity and support sustainable communities. 

• Find out what your states and local districts are doing to plan for and fund ongoing and deferred maintenance and to provide for school construction spending in these uncertain economic times

• There is a bill - Fix America's Schools Today - that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate which would provide $30 billion in federal funding for K12 public schools and community colleges to address the problems of deferred maintenance in public schools-reducing local and state backlogs by about 10%.  Do your representatives support this bill?  If not, what would they propose to reduce our nation's public education infrastructure deficit?

• Ask elected officials and those running for office what they propose doing to support and ensure that all children have healthy, safe and educationally adequate school buildings and grounds to attend

• Contact your local public schools and find out how you can volunteer to participate in local school clean-ups and beautification days...not just at the beginning of the year, but throughout the school year...OR go to US Green Building Council's Green Apple Day of Service to join a school improvement project in your area

• Join the Through Your Lens campaign and take a photo of conditions in your school, post it on your Facebook page and tag it to Through Your Lens Facebook Photo Gallery

• View PARADE Magazine's Special Report: Rebuilding America's Schools, to learn about how two communities have improved the schools for their children, families and neighborhoods

 

New Technology and Green Cleaning Webinar Tomorrow

We’re so excited to kick off our second annual Green Cleaning Webinar Series. These practical online seminars feature national leaders and on-the-ground experts on green cleaning in schools. Each webinar, offered free of charge, will offer strategies to help you start or enhance a current green cleaning program.

Tomorrow's webinar, "New Technology and Green Cleaning," will feature building engineers and content experts discussing the latest technology in green cleaning and review new products they are using in the schools they serve. In addition, speakers will discuss strategies for creating buy-in among cleaning staff for new green cleaning technology and building support for green cleaning programs throughout the school community.

Speakers include Steve Ashkin of Green Cleaning Network, Mervin Brewer of Salt Lake City School District, and Michael Smith of Western Washington University.

We're really excited about this webinar!

Be sure to join the conversation on Twitter, follow @healthyschools and use #greenclean2012 to send in your questions and comment during the session.

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Plus: Sign up for our green cleaning newsletter for the latest updates in the green cleaning industry. 

Do you have an extraordinary green cleaning program? Apply for the Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities.

Physical Activity Boost: Exercise Videos

By Lizzy Parker, HSC communications intern

Lizzy Parker is a rising junior at Colorado College with a passion for health and fitness. In January of 2012, she became a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. As an intern at HSC this summer, she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for and knowledge about physical activity—and, that it can be fun!

As a kid, my mom frequently practiced yoga. She would attend the occasional class, but more often than not, she followed a yoga video. My sister and I loved watching her and began to do the poses along with her. Yoga gave my mom the flexibility (no pun intended) to exercise and spend time with us. Whether you have a newborn or a preteen, fitness videos offer an easy way to include your child in your exercise routine and demonstrate how to live an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, investing in these videos can add up. It is more cost-effective, and less of a gamble, to try a DVD before committing to a purchase.  When visiting your local library, take a moment to explore the fitness DVDs. You can also look for fun exercise videos on YouTube or exercise-specific sites. Pick whatever sparks your interest, or choose one of these:

• Zumba is a fitness program that combines different types of dance with cardio. Popular for the fun music and energetic instructors, Zumba has garnered a devoted following. You won’t have a hard time convincing your children to join in!
• Hatha Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is great for beginners. The poses are simple and easy to follow for any age (like this one).
• Tae Bo Kicks is a toned down version of Tae Bo, the martial arts inspired workout. Although geared toward kids, parents will enjoy taking part as well!

Give any of these a shot and figure out what works for you, and what your kids enjoy most!

Disclaimer: The recommendations on this blog are not meant to be a substitute for recommendations from your physician. Take care to consult with your physician if you have questions or concerns about beginning a new exercise regimen. As always, if something hurts, don’t do it. Know your body’s limits and refrain for pushing yourself too far, too fast.  

Go for the Gold: Breakfast

As part of our Go for the Gold celebration, students created artwork and wrote essays about health and wellness at their school.


This artwork comes from a Darrell Montgomery, a Chicago Public School student.

Darnell describes his healthy breakfast of oatmeal, 100% orange juice, carrots, eggs, and an apple. Sounds delicious! Research demonstrates that students who begin the day with a healthy breakfast are better able to learn and have fewer tardies and absences. Students who eat breakfast also display improved cognitive function, improved attention span and better behavior.

In June, 37 Chicago schools were recognized for meeting the high standards of the HealthierUS School Challenge.

Stay posted for more student art from this celebration!

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To learn more about Go for the Gold, visit www.goforthegoldCPS.org.

 

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on School Wellness: "If children aren’t healthy, they can’t fulfill their academic and social potential"

by Ashley Hofmann, HSC public policy intern

Ashley Hofmann is completing the final practicum to earn her Masters of Social Work from the University of Missouri. Her academic research and passion focuses on disparities in access to healthcare and how policy can act as a catalyst for social justice. As a summer intern at HSC, Ashley is researching best-practices for student health and wellness and advocating for support of healthy foods in the 2012 Farm Bill.  

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was recently interviewed by NewPublicHealth, a blog at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, about why the Department of Education is interested in health. He responded with the clearest and most obvious answer, an answer that HSC also understands – that healthy children are successful students. Here is an excerpt from the interview and the Secretary’s candid response: 

NPH: The Department of Education is a member of the National Prevention Council. Why is health a priority for the Department?

Secretary Duncan: Very simply, if children aren’t healthy they can’t fulfill their academic and social potential. I always talk about the foundation of building blocks for great education, which includes good physical and emotional health. If children can’t see the blackboard they can’t do well. If children are hungry they can’t do well. If children are obese they are not going to do as well as they should. So we have to collectively make sure that children are physically and emotionally healthy so they can think about AP Chemistry and Biology and Physics and the rest of their learning.

Secretary Duncan’s observations are backed by research that shows there is a strong connection between health and learning –- healthy, active, and well-nourished children have higher attendance records and perform better on academic tests than their counterparts. In the interview, he touched on multiple facets affecting children’s health, including their learning environment, opportunities for physical activity, and access to nutritious food. He highlighted the Green Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes schools that make progress in energy efficiency, sustainability, and eco-friendly cleaning programs. He also stressed the necessity for children to have time reserved for recess and P.E. classes. These breaks are essential for students to be able to focus while in the classroom and also act as a preventative measure against childhood obesity rates, which are rising in the U.S. 

Secretary Duncan believes that the Department of Education’s role in promoting student health is to demonstrate what works –- sharing resources and ideas for improving student health, highlighting schools that have programs and policies in place to ensure its student population remains ready to learn, and being an accountable partner in supporting healthy, successful students. 

Earlier this year, Secretary Duncan spoke at HSC’s Health in Mind briefing in Washington, D.C. Through the Health in Mind recommendations presented at this briefing, HSC and Trust for America’s Health outlined practical steps to integrate health into our nation’s approach to education. The Department is in a unique position to provide leadership to states and schools districts on the importance of integrating health into school policy and practice. Many stakeholders have a role in improving student health and academic success, preventing childhood obesity, and enhancing our education system. The Department, under Secretary Duncan’s guidance, can act as a catalyst for innovation and best practices.

Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities Webinar Tomorrow

We’re so excited to kick off our second annual Green Cleaning Webinar Series. These practical online seminars feature national leaders and on-the-ground experts on green cleaning in schools. Each webinar, offered free of charge, will offer strategies to help you start or enhance a current green cleaning program.

Last month, we launched our Green Cleaning Webinar Series with “Learn from the Leaders.” Tomorrow’s session, “Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities,” will focus on the what, why and how-to of the Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities. Presenters will highlight best practices and practical tips for easily completing the application and will provide background and history on the award. The goal of the webinar is to make it easy for schools and their partners to apply for the award. 

Speakers include Joe Agron of American School & University magazine, Steve Ashkin of Green Cleaning Network, and Mark Bishop of Healthy Schools Campaign.

This webinar is sponsored by

We are looking forward to another informative webinar!

Be sure to join the conversation on Twitter, follow @healthyschools and use #greenclean2012 to send in your questions and comment during the session.

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Plus: Sign up for our green cleaning newsletter for the latest updates in the green cleaning industry. 

Do you have an extraordinary green cleaning program? Apply for the Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities.

A Conversation with Parents United for Healthy Schools Founding Leaders: “That’s when I knew this would be bigger than we’d realized.”

This week, we’ve shared highlights from recent local and national recognition for Parents United for Healthy Schools and have introduced two of the remarkable parent leaders at the heart of the coalition’s success.

Today, as we wrap up this series, we’ll share a conversation with Guillermo Gomez and Jovita Flores, two of the founding leaders of Parents United in 2006. Today, both Guillermo and Jovita continue to be closely involved with the parent coalition: Guillermo serves as vice president of urban affairs for Healthy Schools Campaign, and Jovita is the manager of Parents United for Healthy Schools.

When you created Parents United for Healthy Schools, what did you hope to accomplish? Did you foresee the impact the coalition would have?

Guillermo: It was a huge challenge then, in 2004, 2005, 2006, to talk about childhood obesity and its impact on Latino and African-American communities. As we were going out there and trying to convey this message, we found that the people we were talking with were not familiar with health disparities, or the impact of healthy eating. There was a whole learning curve of sharing information about health disparities, talking about social justice, connecting the reality of childhood obesity in our communities to solutions both at home and in schools. Once people started seeing different dimensions of the problem and seeing possibilities for addressing it, then they were interested.

At the time, we thought of success as simply being part of the solution. Being at the table with [school] district officials to talk about the wellness policy -- that was success. Talking with parents and learning that they had told other parents about these issues was a success. It was about creating dialogue and prompting discussions in the community and at schools.

We held a rally in 2006, the parents’ rally for healthy schools, that we consider the founding moment of Parents United. We were expecting 200 or maybe 300 parents to attend. More than 700 parents turned out. At that point, we knew we had really struck a nerve. We were there surrounded by parents who showed up to raise their voice for wellness in schools. That’s when I knew this would be bigger than we’d realized.

What are the most significant changes you’ve seen since Parents United was created in 2006?

Jovita: I see parents reaching the point where they want to take action much more quickly now. They are more aware and they are closer to the point where they realize they need to do something to find solutions to childhood obesity in their neighborhoods. Back when we started, I’d talk to moms about nutrition and they’d say “nope, I don’t need nutrition class.” They thought everything was fine. Now there’s more awareness. We talk about disparities, about kids’ health, about what we want for our kids. Now moms are ready to hear that the first time.

I still reach out to them with my personal story -- that hasn’t changed. I tell them that diabetes runs in my family and I don’t want my kids to suffer like I have and like others in my family have. I share with them that we have high rates of diabetes and obesity in our community but I want my kids to be healthy. That story has not changed. The moms hear that and they tell me they see the same things but didn’t know how to make a change. And then we create activities and invite moms to join -- aerobics class, my nutrition class that is more like a leadership class. We give them the tools to talk to their principal and say, “I want recess for my kids. This is why physical activity and nutrition are important.” They have tools and answers to change the trends so their children can be healthier.

Guillermo: We started with small changes -- with serving fruit at breakfast meetings instead of doughnuts. At the time, this was shocking. Nobody could imagine a meeting without doughnuts. Now it’s completely normal. Parents tell me they’re shocked when they go to any meetings and the food isn’t healthy. They’re shocked when their kids are served unhealthy food at school, and they are ready to talk to teachers, other parents, and to the principal to create policies that make healthy snacks or healthy food part of the school’s standards and culture. We’ve seen a gradual but very powerful change in how parents see their own health and are prepared to take charge, for themselves and for their kids.

Parents United has had so many accomplishments over the years. What do you see as the biggest accomplishment?

Guillermo: The formation of Parents United is still our biggest accomplishment! To bring together a group of parents who became leaders around wellness, to propose change to healthy food at the district level and then see the food change. Over time, parents began to see what the wellness policy could do -- or rather, what they could do by leveraging the district wellness policy. This whole concept of conceiving a wellness team that involves parents and getting that written into the district wellness policy was a huge accomplishment that has been the foundation for many of our victories since then. That has positioned Parents United to successfully advocate for the return of recess, for healthier school food and for breakfast in the classroom.

Jovita: When I think back to the accomplishments we’ve had over the years, I think about my own experiences with parents. Each time a parent started to see the connection between nutrition and health, that was an accomplishment. Every time a parent then had a moment when she saw the disconnect between healthy food at home and unhealthy food at school, that’s an accomplishment -- when she said “hey, I serve my kids healthy food, why aren’t you serving them healthy food at school?” Parents have had so many big successes at schools and even across the city. These big successes start with every parent who sees the problem and sees that she can be the one to help make a change.

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Many thanks to Jovita and Guillermo for sharing their reflections. Congratulations to Parents United for Healthy Schools for their recent national recognition and for the daily accomplishments of giving parents the tools to create a healthy future for their children.

Parent Leaders as Pioneers for Children’s Health

by Rochelle Davis, HSC President and CEO

Over the past few months, I have been honored and so proud to see the new level of national recognition that Parents United for Healthy Schools has garnered. At the annual parent summit this summer, I was thrilled to celebrate the news that parents had been honored with a unanimous resolution of the Cook County board. A few weeks later, I saw tears in the eyes of many in the audience when parent leaders Hilda Casarez and Karina Macedo shared their stories and accepted a special recognition for Parents United from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  And I am moved each time we get a call here at Healthy Schools Campaign from  community leaders in another part of the country who have heard about the model parents have developed in Chicago and want to bring this powerful approach to their community.

For the past six years, I have seen mothers and fathers of Parents United work tirelessly to achieve a simple and powerful goal: healthy school environments for their children. These parents are not only leaders but also pioneers.

It is sometimes hard to remember what it was like six years ago, before childhood obesity and school wellness were regularly in the news and before we had such a strong champion in the White House.  I remember those days when parents first began talking about health and wellness in schools, when many people they spoke with did not recognize the importance of good nutrition and physical activity on student health and learning.

It is amazing to see how Parents United has grown over the years and the power that this parent voice has had in improving the food and fitness environment not only in their children’s schools, but also for all CPS students across the district.

In thinking about this recognition, I think about the 700 parents who participated in a rally for healthy schools in 2006, and the thousands of parents who signed petitions to bring back recess in the years following. These parents were not joining an existing national movement -- they were often the first people in their schools and communities talking about health disparities, about social justice and about their vision that schools can be healthy places for all children.

These parents’ impact has been truly amazing.  Schools with strong parent leaders are making changes at the school level.  There are now over 50 parent led wellness teams in Chicago.  Many of these schools have made so many changes that they qualify for recognition by the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge program.  In the past two years, many schools with parent leaders received this recognition and a number of parents were invited to celebrate this accomplishment at the White House.  What is even more impressive is to consider the fact that more than half of all the schools that have received recognition in Chicago have parents active in Parents United.

Parents’ impact has gone far beyond changes in individual schools.  Parents worked with their schools to pilot Breakfast in the Classroom and then demonstrated strong support for that program to be available to every grammar school student in the district.  Parents brought recess back in their children’s schools and then worked with CPS officials to make sure that recess is part of every grammar school child’s day.  It is remarkable to see parents make change in their own schools and then take the next step of working together to raise a collective voice and make sure that all students have these same opportunities.

Congratulations to the remarkable parent leaders of Parents United for Healthy Schools on the recent recognition they have received. These honors are built on years of work and vision as true pioneers for children’s health.

Parents' Rally for Healthy Schools, 2006

Cook County Board Salutes Parents United for Healthy Schools

by Brittany Wright, HSC media and outreach specialist

Earlier this summer, I was honored to join a small group of committed parents at a Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting. Seventh District Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Board President Toni Preckwinkle invited Parents United for Healthy Schools to the meeting to be formally recognized in a board resolution.

Parents United for Healthy Schools members with Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (left) and Board President Toni Preckwinkle (right) after receiving recognition through a board resolution

Commissioner Garcia introduced the resolution, co-sponsored by President Preckwinkle, to recognize the parent-led group. He read:

Parents United was formed out of concern for skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity in Chicago and the growing health disparities in our city. They engage parents in training on the knowledge and skills to develop strategies to organize school wellness teams to support health promoting changes in schools. They’ve been active in advocating for recess, speaking up for healthy school food and supporting changes for student health and wellness at individual schools.

They began championing the reinstitution of recess and because of efforts such as theirs, it will now be required in all Chicago Public Schools at the elementary level in 2012. Parents United for Healthy Schools began championing breakfast in the classroom and because of effort such as theirs, it was instituted at Chicago Public Schools at the elementary level in 2011.

Now therefore be it resolved that this board of commissioners does hereby recognize the efforts of Parents United for Healthy Schools in promoting health awareness among parents and school age children.

To our group’s surprise and delight, Commissioner Garcia’s colleague Commissioner Larry Suffredin (13th District), moved to have the entire board co-sponsor the resolution. It passed unanimously.  

Healthy School Campaign vice president of urban affairs Guillermo Gomez spoke on behalf of the Parents United group. “On behalf of the parents who are here this morning, it is a great honor to be here and receive this great acknowledgement," he said. "I would like to thank Commissioner Garcia and President Preckwinkle for sharing this great honor with us. We look forward to continuing to create healthy schools throughout Chicago.”

He added, “It goes back to the parents’ commitment. They’re very committed in not only fighting childhood obesity, but also in just having healthy families and healthy children.”

It is an honor to see these dedicated parents be recognized at the city level and amazing to see the tangible changes parents are creating through collaborative efforts in their schools and communities.

Kudos to Parents United on your extraordinary work! 

Plus: Be sure to check out the new Parents United video! At the end, watch Commissioner Garcia read the resolution.

Parent Leader Karina Macedo: “I didn’t always think I was a leader.”

This summer, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation recognized Parents United for Healthy Schools at its national Food & Community Conference, the first such recognition the foundation has presented.  Earlier this week, we shared video of W.K. Kellogg Foundation President Sterling K. Speirn as he commended parents for their community-level work to transform school environments. Yesterday, we shared the story of parent leader Hilda Casarez. Now, we are honored to spotlight parent leader Karina Macedo, who, along with Hilda, accepted this recognition on behalf of Parents United for Healthy Schools.

In accepting the recognition, Karina talks about the power of working together and of the tremendous victories -- such as changing school food and bringing a healthy breakfast in the classroom to all students -- that Parents United has achieved.

She also expresses a fundamental element of Parents United’s approach: giving parents information, skills and perspective to see their own leadership abilities and create changes they value.

“I’m a leader working hard to create changes with many other parents in Chicago,” she said.  “But I didn’t always think I was a leader. Through Healthy Schools Campaign, I was able to open my eyes, get involved, raise my voice, and make healthy choices in my life, my family, my school and my community.”

You can hear Karina’s story in her own words in the video below:

Kudos to Karina, Hilda and the many parents working together to raise a strong voice for children’s health.

Parent Leader Hilda Casarez: Creating Healthy Options in Schools, Building a New Career

This summer, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation recognized Parents United for Healthy Schools at its national Food & Community Conference, the first such recognition the foundation has presented.  Yesterday, we spotlighted W.K. Kellogg Foundation President Sterling K. Speirn as he commended parents for their community-level work to transform school environments. Now, we are happy to spotlight parent leader Hilda Casarez, who accepted this recognition on behalf of Parents United for Healthy Schools.

In her remarks as she accepts the award, Hilda relates part of her own story. After getting involved in her school wellness team, learning about healthy eating and promoting nutritious food options in school events and city-wide meetings, Hilda decided to turn her new passion for healthy eating into a career. She earned a scholarship, completed culinary training and is now an entrepreneur who provides healthy catering in her community.

Watch the video below to hear Hilda’s story in her own words.

Sincere congratulations to Hilda and all the parent leaders who are making our schools and communities healthier places.