The after-school program at Judson W. Robinson Jr. Community Center just got a whole lot healthier. The Houston city council approved a meal program that would provide healthy meals to students at the community center; some kids aren't picked up by their parents until 6:30 or 7 at night. The program, funded by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture, will be available to children attending after-school programs run by the city Department of Parks and Recreation at 49 community centers, as well as at four programs run by nonprofits. The sites were chosen based on areas in which half of the students in the local school are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The meals delivered by the grant initially will be given to about 1,500 children, who will receive a 3 p.m. snack and ...
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 ...
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 ...
On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education adopted the Improving Food and Nutrition Policy. The policy strengthens nutrition education in the classroom and ensures that the last student in the lunch line has at least 20 minutes to eat. The policy also includes provisions that address the appeal and nutritional value of school meals as well as local food ...
Introduced by California State Senator Bill Monning (D- Carmel) in February 2012, AB1678 sought to restrict mobile food vending near school campuses before, during and after the school day. Much effort has gone into removing unhealthy food choices from California schools, making sure that the healthy choice is the easy choice. However, those efforts are being undermined by mobile food vending that specifically and intentionally targets students near school campuses with unhealthy snacks. In March 2012, it was announced that the bill would not move further that ...
A campaign run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that challenges school lunch programs to make healthier meals has awarded 32 Mesquite Independent School District elementary schools with Healthier U.S. School status. This year, the district has revamped school menus to focus on fresh fruit and vegetables and has eliminated some of the unhealthier options. Each school receives $500 for meeting the challenge. The city of Mesquite is a city in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and Hispanics make up the majority of students in the school ...
Feeding kids in Texas schools is no easy task, but policies at the local, state and national level make it easier for schools to give kids the nutrition they need so they can focus on doing their best in the classroom. The National School Lunch Program outlines national standards school meals must meet, but Texas has done its part to go above and beyond the requirement, ensuring that growing Texas minds get all the nutrition they ...
