Food in Schools: Coachella Valley Schools get Healthy, California

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More than half of the children in the Coachella Valley are overweight or obese, according to the most recent statistic. The demographics of the Coachella Valley’s youth adds to the area’s challenge. Latino children and low-income children — 78 and 75 percent of the valley’s public school students, respectively — are more likely to be overweight or obese. Almost twice as many Latino children in the Coachella Valley were overweight as compared to white children, according to 2010 Health Assessment Resource Center statistics. Realizing the need for change, the valley has been implementing various programs around the area to help set kids back on the path to life-long health.

One shining example of progress is Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD), who won the Healthy Lifestyle Challenge “Best of the Best” award for their top-notch nutrition program. PSUSD’s nutrition program targets students, staff and parents and includes: a “wellness policy” with guidelines for acceptable foods to be sold on campus and limiting fund raising to healthy items; a Chef in the Classroom program; after school cooking clubs; parent cooking classes; district-wide walking programs; teacher “Lunch & Learns”; and in-class Harvest of the Month curricula. School districts like PSUSD are making huge strides in ensuring that the coming generation of kids have the knowledge and the will power to live happy, healthy lives.