Posted by:
Christine Horan, Department of Public Health
If you haven’t been to your childhood school since well, you were a child, I think you might be quite surprised by the changes that have taken place. Whether it’s been 5 years or 50 since you were a student, schools are making changes every day to create healthier environments for the students and staff to learn and work. The bad rap given to school cafeterias and physical education classes are more undeserved than ever. In fact, in many districts it’s your Food and Nutrition Director or PE teacher leading the charge to improve school nutrition and increase physical activity.
While efforts have been happening you many years, a big force in getting schools to make changes was the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This federal act mandated school districts to convene a committee to develop a wellness policy addressing nutrition education, physical activity opportunities and foods served on school campuses. These Wellness Policies helped get the ball rolling for some districts to begin addressing these issues and gave others the momentum to continue their efforts to improve their food and fitness environments.
So what are schools doing?
- In Ashland, Food and Nutrition Director applies for every grant she can to be able to offer students meals made from scratch and fresh fruits daily. Check out the story WBUR did on the school lunch in Ashland.
- In Medford, a chef was hired as a part of a system-wide initiative to improve school lunches. As a result, new recipes have been introduced, staff trained on new food preparation techniques and processed foods have been removed.
- In Holyoke, Dean Technical High School opened a new salad bar that will be maintained by students in the Culinary Department.
- At the Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston, students participate in JAMmin Minutes. Each morning at 9:35, the loudspeaker announces “It’s time for JAMmin Minutes” followed by a health tip of the day. Eight hundred students and teachers participate in the 5 minute exercises left in teachers mailboxes the week before.
- The Paul Baird Middle School and Boy and Girls Club in Ludlow purchased Dance Dance Revolution to be used in after school program and summer programs hosted by the school and their community partner. Dance Dance Revolution is a video game that has players follow arrow on the screen with their feet on the “dance platform” to create dance patterns and work up a sweat!
The list goes on and on…Tell us what your school is doing to promote healthy eating and physical activity?
Nice to hear about the things going on at the local schools. My daughter teaches health in Peabody and I was thinking I'd forward her this blog. Maybe she can report what's happening out her way. Good job!
Posted by: Dick Lunden | March 30, 2009 at 02:55 PM
actually, i can answer the question in the comment above. i work with the Holyoke Food & Fitness Policy Council, which together with Nuestras Raices helped make that salad bar in Dean Technical HS a reality. Its my understanding that the veggies in the salad bar are going to be coming from local sources when possible. there are other things on the salad bar- meats, for one- that cannot be sourced locally yet. but its a start. thank you christine for the summary and links to other things happening in the state! there will be a school wellness symposium in april offered by DOE, see www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=4607
Posted by: sarah bankert | March 05, 2009 at 12:17 PM