Interesting website!

I was messing around earlier today looking for some recent information and this website popped up on google!

http://www.insidetheschool.com/online-seminars/practical-ways-to-implement-the-healthy-hunger-free-kids-act/

It's a good resource for educators on tips for implementing the new act.

After the presentation Practical Ways to Implement the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act participants will be able to:

• Understand the new Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and the history of child nutrition law
• Identify the steps for enforcement of the new act
• Recognize the importance of a school wellness committee and a district-wide wellness policy
• Identify potential obstacles to implementing the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and ways to overcome the roadblocks
• Identify new opportunities for improved health, wellness, and academic achievement for students
• Identify opportunities and benefits of the new law

Vending Machine Changes!

Not only did the bill give the USDA authority to make changes to the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program but the USDA can also make changes to the choices available in vending machines at schools! I found a news article from St. Louis which stated

"Now the new machine at Burroughs offers yogurt and pita chips, and more of its kind could be on the way to replace the older models. The move comes as more schools, hospitals, malls and health clubs make room for more vending machines that provide healthful foods, turning the idea of machine-based eating from an act of desperation into something a little more measured."

This is exciting that the St. Louis schools are taking the initiative to offer healthier choices. Their vending machines used to offer the usual, soda and candy. Making these changes in the school system will hopefully influence the children to make healthier choices outside of the school. 

You can see the entire article here: 

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/article_a6c055d1-0e34-5ea7-8cc5-beedebcf8116.html

New rules implemented!

Read in the news today that new rules concerning the use if locally grown crops and support of local agriculture will effect the school lunch program! This is a huge progress! Many schools have been fighting to use the Farm to School program for years now! According to the news article The Farm to School component of this effort is designed to help connect schools with regional or local farms in order to serve healthy meals using locally-sourced products in their cafeterias. USDA currently is sending teams out to select school districts to work on farm to school issues. Some of these programs also incorporate nutrition-based studies, as well as food-learning opportunities such as farm visits, gardening, cooking, and composting activities.

Hope this initiative helps improve the nutrition of the school lunch and breakfast programs!

Sample Menu

When I went to Washington DC and met with Robert Kramer, he went out of his way to supply me with information on the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and the National School Lunch Program.

One interesting piece of information was a sample menu to show the differences that would be implemented in the food choices after the act went into effect. Significant changes you can see at first glance include changes to whole wheat grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products and raw fruits and vegetables. Before the act, a lot of the meals consisted of energy dense foods (lots of calories) such as hot dogs, pizza sticks, breaded beef patty and cheese pizza for the second day in one week!

This Child Reauthorization Act and the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act is providing healthier, nutrient dense foods rather than the previous energy-dense foods. 

Money allocated to Kentucky through the HHFKA

When I met with the legislative aid to Ben Chandler in Washington DC he provided me with an interesting document. In this document there is a listing of money allocated to every state from the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, and the total National School Lunch Program from 2009.

In Kentucky:

• 570,758 students participated in the NSLP in 2009
• Kentucky is receiving $5,394,000 in funding from the HHFKA to improve school lunches

Hopefully this funding will help make the school lunches healthier for the students! We can only hope! 

Nutritional Quality of the Diets of US Public School Children and the Role of the School Meal Programs

I found this interesting research article from the American Dietetic Association from 2009. I was shocked by the statistics that were provided in the article. According to the School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study (SNDA-1)  participation in the National School Lunch Program was associated with increased intakes of several key nutrients but also associated with increased intakes of fat, saturated fat and sodium. SNDA-2 was performed in 1998-1999 and it found that the fat and saturated fat content of the meals had gone down without compromising the amount of vitamins provided. This article used data from the SNDA-3 to assess the nutritional quality of the diets of US public school children and to explore the relationship between children's participation in the school meal programs and the nutritional quality of their diets.

Children were required to complete a 24-hour diet recall and interviews. The parents as well were asked to complete a parent interview. Children ranged from grades 1 through 12. Researchers found an association between program participation and excessive sodium intakes along with high prevalence of excessive saturated fat intakes among all students. These findings helps me understand the importance of the revisions to the Child Reauthorization Act. By revising and implementing the changes we can provide healthier choices to children while at school. In the long run, this could influence the food choices the children begin to make on their own.

Trip to Washington DC :)

I had hoped to meet with the USDA to discuss the Child Reauthorization Act and it's progress. However, that contact fell through and was not able to meet. I made a trip to the US Capitol to meet with Congressman Ben Chandler's office for a tour. I had previous contact with a gentleman that worked in the district office in Lexington who was going to pass my information on to a Legislative Assistant in DC. I hadn't heard anything from the assistant in DC so I had given up all hope. However, when we were in Ben Chandler's office a young man came out from the back and said my name! To my surprise it was my legislative assistant contact Robert Kramer! He sat down with me and discussed the bill and asked me about my questions! He ended up contacting the committee for me asking them where the bill stood. Right now there is nothing else that can be regulated since this bill is mandatory funding. Usually with an authorization bill they set out an amount they think is needed to fund the bill and an appropriations committee will decide the final amount. However, this is not the case with the Child Reauthorization Act.

He also gave me a lot of good resources to read through so I hope they provide me with a lot of useful information to understand how this bill is implemented within the communities!