School district promotes healthy eating habits in the classroom
USDA calls Novato a model of nutrition education
Novato’s nutrition education program received praise Thursday from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, who called the district’s efforts to put local produce in its schools’ cafeterias a model for the nation.
“You are one of three school districts in California that are considered models for how we are trying to improve the school lunch program,” said Allen Ng, western regional administrator for the USDA’s food and nutrition service. He also praised Southern California’s Riverside and Ventura school districts during a presentation at Novato High School. In particular, USDA officials singled out the Novato schools’ gleaning program in which students, parents and other volunteers gather vegetables and other crops left over after a harvest at a local farm.
“Simply because of aesthetic requirements, 20 percent of our food gets left in the field,” said Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic, which sponsors the program. “Harvesting that food allows schools to get some of its food for free and purchase local, organic food from our growers at below-market prices.”
Building a Nutritious Lunch
OK, school is now officially back in session in full force. There is so much to do each morning to get the kids out the door on time with everything they need to succeed. Lunch preparation becomes one more chore to squeeze in with all the other deadlines of the AM rush. But what you put in your kids mouths and stomachs each day can have so much of an impact on how they feel and learn all day. Take time to do it right from a nutrition standpoint. You only get to prepare them health-wise for the rest of their life once.
And while you’re at it, why not make lunch for yourself? Just as we can’t (unfortunately) count on our schools to supply the healthiest of lunch options these days, you may find yourself having to settle for “fast-food” meals in your day without some advance planning.
To help you and the kids power an afternoon of learning, growing and achieving, experts say a nutritious lunch should include lots of fiber and whole grains, some protein and healthy fat, a veggie and just a bit of natural sugar, like a piece of fresh fruit.
Easier said than done, you may be thinking.
Healthy Eating - keep it simple
I sort of stumbled into this whole healthy eating/proper nutrition has amazing restorative powers thing. Well actually I was “pushed” by my doctor who wanted to prescribe Lipitor for my high cholesterol, and I said, “no way.” You can read about what happened to me on my journey via the blog on the Engine 2 Diet website. As you’ll see from the article, it is not so much about what’s going on with your body on the outside as it is the amazing changes proper nutrition can bring about on the inside.
There are many schools of thought on exactly what constitutes the ideal diet for each individual
Update: Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act
An update on HR 5044, The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act
The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504) will dramatically improve children’s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. (Original bill text)
This new legislation, which was amended and passed by the Committee on July 14, 2010, will answer President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to reduce childhood hunger and support school and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity. (Supporters of H.R. 5504)
