Providing a healthy food environment at school can play a huge role in reducing childhood obesity. In 2010, the Texas State Board of Education amended school nutritional guidelines to prohibit the sale of competitive foods during school hours for elementary schools and during meal periods for middle and high schools. Competitive foods are defined as items sold in vending machines, in school stores, or through school fundraisers by parents, administrators or other groups or organizations. The new rules also state that carbonated beverages are not allowed to be provided to students anytime, anywhere until after the end of the last scheduled ...
In July 2009, a state-wide policy went into effect in California that prohibited public schools from selling food containing artificial trans fat, either through a vending machine or school food service establishment during school hours and up to 1/2 hour before and after school. Authored by California State Senator Elaine Alquist (D- Santa Clara),the law prohibits the use of artificial trans fat in the preparation of a food item served to to students as well. Hispanics make up 51% of K-12 students in California, making this victory especially sweet for Latino ...
On February 1st, USDA proposed national school nutrition standards for vending, a la carte, school stores, and other foods sold outside the school meal programs. Highlights include strong criteria for calories, fats, sugars, and sodium in foods sold outside the school meal plan. The comment period is 60 days, then the final plan will be instated. Competitive foods have hurt many schools' attempts at bringing in healthier food options, because these vending and a la carte options tend to be high fat and sugar and are not federally ...
In the city of Baldwin Park, twenty miles inland from Los Angeles, the majority of residents are young (two out of three are under 35) and Hispanic (four our of five). Finding nutritious, affordable food in this area has been a struggle. “Healthy Teens on the Move,” an advocacy committee of students from two local high schools in Baldwin Park, have made it their mission to improve Baldwin Park’s physical activity and food environment for local children, of whom one in three is overweight. They took an active role in bringing healthy changes to school cafeterias and also helped Baldwin Park become the first city in California to pass an ordinance that ensured all foods and beverages sold in city-sponsored youth facilities complied with the same state nutrition standards that ...
A church in Kansas City, Missouri has created their own grocery store to help bring healthy, fresh food into an area of need. Harvest Learning Center (HLC) is a non-profit grocery store built alongside the World Harvest Ministries church in Kansas City's Ivanhoe neighborhood. HLC is run by Pastor Terry Glenn, and is partnered with Good Natured Family Farms, Hen House, Buy Fresh Buy Local, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food & Community Program. The store sells locally grown produce and other healthy foods items and lower rates than most people can find in a regular grocery store. Even better, HLC matches SNAP and food program benefits, ensuring that all families get access to these healthy foods. The church hopes to start cooking classes to help families learn how to prepare easy, ...
Because of restrictive food safety ordinances, farmers markets could not do business in Plano, Texas. On Tuesday December 18th, 2012, Plano city council voted unanimously to make several major changes to the food ordinance. Among the most important was changing the definition of a farmers market in order to allow not only produce but also items such as cheese, milk and meat. The market will be located at Fairview Farms, 3314 N. Central Expressway and is tentatively scheduled to be open Saturdays from April to October. Plano, a northern suburb of Dallas, has a significant Hispanic population that will benefit from the location of Plano's first real farmers ...
In March of 2012, Austin’s Sustainable Food Center opened the Farmers' Market East, offering the first Double Dollar Incentive Program that matches food assistance in the state of Texas. Funded by local and federal government as well as private groups, the Double Dollar Incentive Program doubles the amount of money a person can spend when they use their federal assistance money, like WIC or SNAP, on fresh food at the farmers’ market. Austin’s East side has been referred to as a food desert, where fresh food and produce is not easy to find. The new farmers’ market, along with the incentive program, are creative ways to ensure that communities have access to healthy ...
The Houston School Meals Initiative is petitioning the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to eliminate unhealthy options and ingredients from school lunches. The Houston School Meals Initiative is a collaboration of effort and support from parents, PTAs/PTOs, students, school administrators, educators, and advocates who support the improvement of HISD’s food served to students from grades Pre-K to 12. HISD is the largest school district in Texas, with Hispanics making up over 60% of the student ...
Since December 2010, the UK and USA have been sharing examples of policy and practices in promoting healthy eating in schools. With similar challenges and successes on both sides of the Atlantic, both wanted to find a way to raise awareness of the importance of good nutrition among children and foster healthy eating habits both at home and at school – and so, International School Meals Day emerged. Overall, the theme of International School Meals Day is to: Raise awareness of the importance of the nutritional quality of school meal programs worldwide.
Emphasize the connection between healthy eating, education and better learning.
Connect children around the world to foster healthy eating habits and promote well-being in schools.
Share success stories of school food programs ...
