Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

In an effort to teach kids the benefits of healthier eating, Baltimore City Public Schools have implemented Meatless Mondays. Food served in school cafeterias on these days is strictly vegetarian.

"The goal of the Meatless Monday campaign is to introduce consumers to meals that can reduce their carbon footprint and improve their health," Virginia Messina reported in her Oct. 4 Seattle Vegan Examiner article. "Tony Geraci, director of the school systems Food and Nutrition Department said the program is meant to inspire people to understand that there are other meal options than just meat and potatoes."

The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Center for a Livable Future has recognized the Baltimore City Public Schools as the first school system in the U.S. to observe Meatless Mondays  a campaign that was initiated by Johns Hopkins back in 2003, Messina reported.

Labels: schools, vegetables, lunches, vegetarian

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 1 Comment

In conjunction with National School Lunch Month, a group of concerned community members convened in the Naperville (Illinois) Whole Foods grocery store to discuss ways to improve nutrition in area schools.

Dena Sanderson reported on the event in the Oct. 16 edition of the Naperville Sun:

"Healthier children make better learners," said panelist Rochelle Davis, founding executive director of the Healthy Schools Campaign. "Our program allows us to help school officials make changes in school lunch programs," she added.

Davis said the coalition has helped pass key state laws, including requiring schools to have larger cafeterias so students are eating their lunches at normal times. She said this prevents unhealthy snacking and hunger during the school day.

She added that all schools need to adopt wellness policies and parents need to get involved with their schools in order to bring the health issue to the forefront. ...

Catherine Gonzalez, a registered dietitian with the DuPage County Health Department, said the time is now to make changes in school lunch programs because health issues such as Type 2 diabetes, increased cholesterol levels and psychological issues are among the many consequences of childhood obesity.

Labels: nutrition, schools, lunches

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

While one section of the federal government is taking steps to reduce the nation’s troubling rate of childhood obesity, the president of Florida’s Fruit and Vegetable Association says other government efforts are threatening to undermine the nutritional value of school lunches:

The Obama administration recently celebrated National School Lunch Week by highlighting its efforts to improve child nutrition, combat childhood obesity and encourage schools to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge, an initiative that recognizes schools for excellence and physical activity. The challenge is a key element of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to end childhood obesity.

Unfortunately, in another part of Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hatching water mandates that threaten the lunch program. Access to fruits and vegetables children need for healthy lifestyles could soon be limited because of expensive water mandates EPA is set to impose on Florida.

The full text of the article by Mike Stuart may be accessed here.

 

Labels: schools, lunches

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment