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Cleveland: Educators, schools and students focus on nutrition

By: Chloé Morrison
(Contact)

Included in this article

Shelly Copeland

Alla Dralyuk, 6, said some of her favorite foods are cotton candy and Fruit Roll-Ups.

The first-grader at Black Fox Elementary in Cleveland, Tenn., said her favorite “healthy” food is pizza, and that vegetables are just OK.

School officials in the region said the health problems of many of America’s youths start with ignorance about healthy eating.

During National School Lunch Week starting Monday, educators plan to teach healthy eating habits and educate children about nutrition, obesity and exercise.

“I think the health issues that are facing America are really serious,” said Wilma Crane, director of school nutrition in Dade County, Ga.

“They are preventable if we change our eating habits and physical activities,” Ms. Crane said. “School nutrition is really on board in making those changes.”

To incorporate nutrition education with civics lessons during the election season, the School Nutrition Association has incorporated a mock election into school lunch week.

Schools will teach about the voting process as students vote online for their favorite foods, choosing among pizza, a burger, grilled cheese, lasagna and a pita pocket.

While the selections may not seem very healthful, the School Nutrition Association’s Erik Peterson said the choices represent meals revamped to be nutritious.

“They really reflect popular meals that students like,” said Mr. Peterson, the association’s director of public awareness. “We promote that these are made-over versions.”

School lunches have evolved in recent years. The days of mystery meat and scowling lunch ladies under scary hair nets are gone, said Bonnie Safley, director of school nutrition in Catoosa County, Ga. Hair nets are still required, but they’re more fashionable now.

School pizza is still square, but it’s made with low-fat cheese and a whole-wheat crust. Burgers are lean and lasagna is made with vegetables, Mr. Peterson said.

facing the facts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of overweight children is increasing. Mayo Clinic research shows that too much food and too little exercise are the main causes.

Other factors are genetics, family habits and socioeconomic status, research shows.

The CDC reports that more than 9 million children ages 6-19 are overweight or obese, three times the number in 1980.

Childhood obesity rates among preschoolers have doubled in recent years.

Black Fox principal Kim Fisher said that, until recently, many parents thought they were doing well to give their child a fast food burger meal for dinner.

A 2004 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that almost one-third of children ages 4 to 9 eat fast food every day, resulting in six extra pounds gained per year, per child.

“If you’ve worked around children, they grow up on hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza,” Catoosa County’s Ms. Safley said.

From high blood pressure and cholesterol to headaches and impaired vision, being obese can affect the body from head to toe, experts said.

making a change

Mr. Peterson said the nutritional profile of a school lunch has changed a lot in the last five years. The next step is getting students and parents to follow the trend away from school, experts said.

School nutrition officials said many children eat breakfast and lunch at school. For some, those are the only meals the children get, so healthy foods and eating habits are essential.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean only eating fruits and vegetables. School officials also stress moderation and variety to their students.

Nutrition directors said they will try a variety of methods next week to encourage healthy eating, such as having students try fruits and vegetables new to them.

One Catoosa County, Ga., elementary school will feature a fruit or vegetable of the day.

Davis Elementary in Dade County, Ga., is using a new grant that pays for healthy snacks.

“They are loving it,” Ms. Crane said. “It is exposing them to fruits and vegetables they have not eaten before, like mango or plums.”

School officials in Cleveland, Tenn., will take young students on kitchen tours, which educators said spark enthusiasm that helps them learn.

“We discuss the foods on the salad bar and discuss how important they are for their body,” said Cleveland schools child nutrition supervisor Shelly Copeland.

Dade County officials have an online program that allows parents to see what their children ate for lunch.

“If they buy two hamburgers or extra fries, parents can tell,” Ms. Crane said. “Parents can keep track of expenditures, also.”

Most school officials said they promote healthy eating all year, not just during School Lunch Week.

ON THE WEB

n To learn about childhood obesity visit www.childrenshospitals.net.

n To learn about National School Lunch Week visit http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nslw2008.

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