What Makes a School Food SMART?
Beginning this fall, school snacks and meals will become even more nutritious thanks to new Smart Snacks guidelines being implemented in schools nationwide.
But what makes these foods so smart? And how can school employees and families be sure foods meet these new healthy standards?
On Monday, May 12 at 8 pm Eastern, join Bag the Junk, the NEA Health Information Network and MomsRising for a webinar exploring what Smart Snacks will mean for teens and kids.
We’ll answer your questions, and share resources, tips and ideas for making Smart Snacks a simple choice for today’s busy students!
Don’t miss out on this Smart Snacks webinar – register today!
Is Your Local School Eligible for FREE School Meals?
Today is the deadline for states to publish which schools are eligible to participate in Community Eligibility for free school meals.
What is Community Eligibility you ask? Community Eligibility is the newest opportunity for schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.
And what’s especially great about this news is that school districts with eligible schools will have the option to expand free school meals to all schools within the area.
Helping to Tackle Childhood Hunger
Community Eligibility is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, created as a common-sense strategy to tackle a widespread problem impacting millions of children in the U.S.: hunger and lack of access to healthy foods. Nearly 16 million children and teens lived in food insecure households in 2012.
Community Eligibility was developed out of the recognition that the factors that hinder access to nutritious food — such as poverty and food deserts — impact communities broadly. Students in densely low-income areas may still be impacted by these factors, even if on paper they might not otherwise qualify for free school meals.
Currently, there is sometimes social stigma that can be associated with free school meals, preventing those who need these healthy meals from accessing them. Fortunately, there is a way to break down this social stigma that can be associated with free school meals — by making free meals available to ALL students, and using creative strategies like “grab and go” cafe carts or programs like NEA HIN’s Breakfast in the Classroom.
School Meals Can Make a Difference in a Child’s Life
Through our Breakfast in the Classroom program, NEA HIN and educators see the positive impact school meals can have on children’s well-being and academic performance. Educators have seen student’s test score performance increase, tardiness decrease, and infrequent trips to the nurse’s office. Nutritious school meals — however they’re served — can truly make a difference in the life of a child or teen.
Community Eligibility can increase participation in the school meal programs, reduce labor costs for schools, and play a critical role in fighting childhood hunger. It’s clear that schools and students benefit from Community Eligibility, and school districts should make this program available wherever possible.
Is your local school eligible for Community Eligibility? See the list of eligible schools in your state.
Calling All Food Service ESPs: USDA Needs To Hear From You!
The USDA has issued draft regulations on professional standards for school nutrition personnel. These regulations, when finalized, will implement Section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. They include annual training requirements and will apply to all food service ESPs, including those not directly involved in preparing and serving food. There is a deadline of April 7, 2014 to submit comments on the proposed regulations. The USDA needs to hear from food service ESPs!
USDA is required to consider all feedback and suggestions received through these comments in developing the final regulations. You can learn more information about the draft regulations on professional standards, NEA’s analysis of the draft regulations, and take action here. NEA has a model comment that you can download and send to USDA. Click here to upload your comments on-line (the preferred method).
Take action today and let your voice be heard before April 7!
Highlights from Bag the Junk: Preventing Childhood Obesity
This week on BagtheJunk.org, NEA HIN’s sister website dedicated to all things healthy school food…
We hope you enjoy reading our blog this week, and look forward to seeing you here next Thursday!
Bag the Junk Highlights
This week on BagtheJunk.org, NEA HIN’s sister website dedicated to all things healthy school food…
- Did You Know? YOU Can Help Draft Local School Wellness Policy shows how educators and parents can get involved in their school wellness committee and help shape policies that affect student’s health and well being.
We hope you enjoy reading our blog this week, and look forward to seeing you here next Thursday!