Food Fight

Thanks to new legislation, Tennessee elementary and middle school students will have more healthy foods to choose from in their cafeterias and vending machines when they return this August.

The State Board of Education developed nutritional guidelines for most foods sold in these schools under a law passed by state legislators and signed by Governor Bredesen in 2004. Elementary schools must implement all rules this year, while middle schools must implement at least half the rules now and the remaining next year.

Much has been written and said about the epidemic of obesity in children, but the problem boils down to kids eating too much and exercising too little. State lawmakers and support groups developed this bill to address the rising level of obesity among youngsters in the state. Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in youth and adolescents ages 6 to 19. Nationally, one child in seven is obese, while one in three is overweight. Health officials say the rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes among Tennessee schoolchildren are some of the highest in the country, particularly in more rural regions. (Type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to poor diet and being overweight.)

Concerns are also vast that most children, even ones at a healthy weight, are not consuming a healthy diet. Statistics point out that only about 2 percent of children and youth meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s recommended guidelines for a healthy diet. Instead, children’s diets are typically too high in soft drinks, unhealthy snacks, calories, fats, sodium, and added sugars; while too low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium and dietary fiber. Such diets can further contribute to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, and many other potentially disabling conditions. It has been stated in the New England Journal of Medicine, in part due to these poor lifestyle habits, that this may be the first generation of children to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Unfortunately, the adverse consequences of poor eating habits are not just future risks for children, but rather are apparent now for many. In addition to seeing increased rates of Type 2 diabetes, other early warning signs of heart disease, like high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol, are being observed by clinicians at earlier and earlier ages.

What can you do?
One important way to teach healthy eating in order to shape children’s current and future dietary patterns is to provide healthy food choices in schools. Children spend a large part of their day at school, and many consume at least half of their daily calories while there. While nutrition education should be an integral part of student learning, the school environment must support the educational messages that are being congruently taught in the classroom.

To help children eat better and have more healthful choices, the Tennessee Board of Education has banned sodas and fruit-flavored drinks from sale at schools and has set new requirements for foods sold in vending machines for grades K-8. The nutritional recommendations are very specific and were created to ensure that our younger students are provided healthier choices for snack options and meals, regardless of their weight status. With a few healthy exceptions (like nuts and dried fruit), calories from fat and sugar in foods must be at or below 35 percent of total calories, and snacks should contain no more than 230 milligrams of sodium. The Board has also set strict limits on portion sizes, so that cookies are no bigger than an ounce (picture a cookie no larger than the circumference of a soda can) and that non-water drink servings are no larger than 8 ounces (one cup).

What’s left?
The foods and beverages affected by this new law for elementary and middle schools include foods sold in vending machines, school stores, snack bars, fundraisers, and a la carte items that are not included in that day’s school lunch. Examples of vending items that are still acceptable include:
• Water and low-calorie, flavored water beverages
• Reduced-fat, low-fat, or non-fat milk (including flavored milk)
• 100% fruit and vegetable juices
• Dried fruit, nuts, and some trail mixes
• Cereal and granola bars that meet stated guidelines
• Animal crackers, baked chips and snacks, 100-calorie snack packs, reduced-fat chips

What about in the lunchroom?
Nutrition in school lunches is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over the last ten years, USDA’s efforts have led to a reduction of the fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium content in served meals, in addition to other healthy changes. However, some school systems have tweaked their menus to make them even healthier.

Knox County Schools have been ahead of the curve on many fronts. In the cafeteria, whole milk has been replaced with low-fat and skim milks. Healthier whole-grain products are used when possible, while fresh fruits and vegetables are available daily. Mary Lou Henry, Knox County Schools’ Foodservice Director, has worked diligently to make more healthful options available to students. In middle and high schools, Henry has instituted the SMART Lunch Program, which offers a nutritious pre-bagged lunch, with more nutrients and dietary fiber and less calories and fat than some of the other regular options.

So what if your child chooses those unhealthy side-item extras in the lunch line (like french fries, etc.) for his/her lunch everyday? With the new state legislation, items sold separately from the daily lunch menu (a la carte items) will be more regulated by the healthy stated guidelines. In addition, those that are available are more likely to be cooked in a healthier manner (like baked rather than fried). Your child will still be allowed options in the cafeteria and vending line; however, those choices should be more on the lines of: an apple versus an orange, rather than an apple versus a big fat candy bar.

“I am very excited to see and welcome changes that are being made to provide healthier food options to our students,” says Henry, “The new nutritional standards have also challenged the industry to produce foods that are healthier and are also very tasty. We are hoping to educate the students on the values of living a healthier lifestyle so the quality, as well as quantity, of their lives is better."

My child won’t eat in the lunchroom!
If you're packing your child's lunch and looking to make it more nutritious, try to avoid high-fat lunchmeats such as bologna in favor of leaner meats like turkey, chicken or lean ham. Avoid salty, oily snacks, such as potato chips, in favor of lower-fat items like pretzels, baked snacks, or graham crackers. Always incorporate some sort of vegetable, such as carrot sticks, broccoli, cucumber slices, or grape tomatoes—and remember to include a small bit of salad dressing as a dip, if that helps encourage your kid to eat more veggies. Replace cookies, pudding, and other sweets with fruit. And to wash it all down, have your child drink low-fat milk instead of soda or juice.

But my child is not overweight!
As of July 1, 2006, nearly all school districts in the United States must implement a federally mandated local School Wellness Policy. Wellness Policies provide locally relevant guidelines for the nutrition of foods available at school, nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. The legislation represents an extraordinary chance to improve the health and learning of millions of American youth, regardless of their weight status. The new Tennessee guidelines regarding vending and foods sold in schools will be incorporated into each school system’s wellness policy in order to create a healthier overall environment for our children while they attend school.

Children are constantly bombarded by commercial advertisers, friends, and even their favorite animated characters to partake in lifestyle choices that are not ideal. Sometimes this choice is the decision to play video games in front of the television versus being physically active; while other times the decision is to choose chocolate-covered, cream-filled snack cakes over strawberries and yogurt. Most people agree that moderation (even in chocolate!) is absolutely critical to wellness; however, the new School Wellness Policies will address the fact that young children may need guidance in their decisions to make healthier choices, especially while at school.

How can you support the efforts of your child’s school?
With the new changes coming to local schools, it is important that parents, caretakers and relatives are supportive of the schools’ attempts to encourage healthier lifestyles. The first thing that translates into is adult role modeling. Starting from birth, it is critical that parents and caretakers create environments conducive to health, as well as themselves exhibiting healthy behaviors—like eating right and being as active as possible. Constant support and encouragement of your child’s positive lifestyle habits will make them feel confident and secure, and will hopefully pave the road to a healthier life ahead.

This year in particular, it is imperative that you be supportive of your child at school so that they can be eased through any transition they may feel. Below are several ways to help do this:

When bringing snacks for your child’s classroom, choose healthy items for them to share, like fruit and vegetable trays with dip, whole grain crackers with cheese, etc.

Pack healthy lunches for your child
When eating at school, encourage your child to make healthful selections, including SMART Lunches at Knox County middle and high schools. Read over the weekly menu together and guide your child through the healthier options.

Work with your child’s teacher to help host “tasting parties” in the classroom to assist the children in exploring new and different tastes, like exotic fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, etc.

Assist your child’s classroom in building a garden. Gardens can be used as teaching tools across the curriculum (e.g. health, math, social studies, spelling, science, etc.), and can also be proudly harvested by the kids to eat.

Inquire about your school’s Wellness Policy and offer to volunteer your time and support if the administrators need more parental involvement.

However you are able, it is important that parents, grandparents, and care-giving adults support a constructive and healthy school environment for their child, as well as for his/her friends and classmates. It may make a difference in shaping healthy habits and preventing certain life-threatening illnesses for the rest of their lives.

Lee T. Murphy, MS-MPH, RD, LDN