|
|
 |
|
Sign
up for the NDC Update for the latest dairy nutrition news, fast facts,
free tools for patients, expert nutrition advice and information on updated
dairy nutrition resources.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
a great
tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Dairy Council Digest Archives
THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IN CONTRIBUTING TO CHILDREN’S WELLNESS
Volume 77, Number 1 Jan/Feb 2006
Commitment to School Wellness
As part of the federal government’s Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (CNRA), each school district participating in federal meal programs (e.g., school breakfast and/or lunch) must establish a local school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year (1). The CNRA (P.L. 108.265 Section 204) places the responsibility for developing wellness policies that promote the health of students and address the growing problem of childhood overweight at the local level so that the individual needs of each school district can be met.
By law, local school wellness policies will have the following elements, at a minimum:
appropriate goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness;
- nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on school campuses during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood overweight;
- assurances that local guidelines for reimbursable school meals at least meet program requirements and nutrition standards established by law;
- plans to measure how effectively the school wellness policy is being implemented, including designating one or more persons within the district or at each school to be responsible for ensuring that each school is meeting the policy;
- involvement of a broad group of members of the community (e.g., parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board and school administrators, and the public) in developing the wellness policy.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies low-fat dairy foods, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains as foods to encourage. These foods deserve attention in school wellness policies.
As required, community members must be involved in the development of each local wellness policy. It therefore is important that stakeholders be knowledgeable about current wellness practices in their school district and the required school wellness policy. Interestingly, a recent national survey of parents of school-aged children in grades K-12 found a significant gap between what parents believe is happening and what is actually happening in terms of nutrition and physical activity in schools (34). The survey found that the vast majority of parents were unaware of the federally required school wellness policy (34). These findings highlight the need to better inform parents about current wellness practices in their children’s schools and how they can become involved in developing local school wellness policies.
When developing wellness policies, consider the following guiding principles to help reduce the risk of childhood overweight while ensuring that children obtain optimal nutrition and physical activity in school:
- Base nutrition and physical activity standards on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines (e.g., place emphasis on food groups to encourage: low-fat dairy, fruits/vegetables, and whole grains);
- Offer real fruit juices, water, and low-fat white and flavored milk instead of nutrient-void sweetened drinks in school vending machines;
- Evaluate foods based on their overall nutritional quality using parameters that are of importance to children’s growth and development;
- Encourage adequate nutrient intakes and consumption of nutrient-dense foods, especially those containing nutrients deficient in children’s diets (i.e., calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E);
- Visibly offer a variety of healthy foods that appeal to children;
- Ensure that children learn practical, life-long lessons about the balance of good nutrition and physical activity.
Table of Contents:
|