Improving Nutrition Improving Nutrition and Fitness in Schoolsand Fitness in Schools

Carai DriffinCarai DriffinWalden UniversityWalden University

Improving Nutrition Improving Nutrition and Fitness in Schoolsand Fitness in Schools

Carai DriffinCarai DriffinWalden UniversityWalden University

Motivating primary and secondary schools to Motivating primary and secondary schools to improve the school's nutrition and fitness improve the school's nutrition and fitness

environment to enhance the well-being of all environment to enhance the well-being of all students. students.

STAKEHOLDERS• Parents of students

attending primary and secondary schools

• Students• Teachers• School cafeteria

staff/School Nutrition Department

• Sports team coaches

Importance of Proper Nutrition

• Daily Breakfast• Healthy Snacks • Healthy Lunches• Balanced Dinners• Increased water

intake

Daily Breakfast• Daily Breakfast is essential. Breakfast refuels

the system as the body has been resting for hours at a time during the night.

• Breakfast prevents morning fatigue and mid-morning hunger that results in eating binges.

Healthy Snacks

• To maintain a healthy metabolism, it is essential to eat healthy snacks in between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and dinner.

• A healthy snack can be fruit, wheat crackers, or yogurt.

Healthy Lunches and Balanced Dinners

• An example of a healthy lunch: A half deli sandwich with lean meat (turkey or chicken) on wheat bread, soup or salad, and fresh piece of fruit.

• Dinners must be balanced with a meat and vegetables.

Water Intake• Extremely important as the human

body is mostly composed of water.• Humans cannot survive without

water as long as we can survive without food.

• Water flushes toxins from vital organs, is lost during regular bodily functions such as breathing and sweating.

Importance of Nutrition in Adolescents

• Adolescence is a time of growth spurts and an abundance of energy.

• Adolescents must maintain energy and the proper nutrients.

Risks of Poor Nutrition among Adolescents

• Difficulty concentrating

• Fatigue• Obesity• Anemia• Constipation (due

to lack of fiber)• Stunted growth

• Irritability• Recurring

headaches• Depression (due

to obesity)• Consistent

patterns of poor nutrition habits

Poor Nutrition• One of the

greatest factors of poor nutrition is skipping meals.

• It is important not to skip breakfast so the body can be refueled from the prior night’s rest.

Poor Nutrition• In a study (cross-sectional) conducted in

Australia in 2004-2005, meal skipping and snacking frequencies were compared among students in secondary schools.

• The meal most likely skipped was breakfast and the students who constantly snacked were more likely to skip meals.

Physical Activity• According to the 2007

MMWR Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, only 34.7% of high school students nationwide participated in a physical activity that increased their heart rate and 53.6% attended PE classes on 1 or more day in an average week.

Schools expected involvement in Students’

Nutrition• Schools are expected to provide

healthy meals (breakfast and lunches) for the students.

• Atlanta’s Public Schools website offers nutrition information for the children, teachers, and parents.

Schools expected involvement in Students’

Nutrition• Although many school systems

claim to have a variety of choices available to students, often times there is only one meal choice.

Schools expected involvement in Students’

Nutrition• Schools should increase

frequency of PE courses per week to increase physical activity.

• Replace high calorie foods in vending machines with healthier snacks (more of granola bars, baked potato chips, wheat sun chips, trail mix)

• All primary schools should continue to have a recess period for students.

• Enhance the health curriculum.

First Lady’s Plan to Fight Adolescent

Obesity• First Lady Michelle Obama has four

major goals to combat childhood obesity.

1. Make sure parents have proper nutrition facts.

2. More healthy schools3. Ensure that affordable, healthy food is

available4. Providing more opportunities for kids to

be active.

Conclusion• Adolescents need to be taught early

how to eat healthy snacks, not to skip breakfast, and how to implement healthy eating into busy lifestyles as they will more likely choose more non-nutritious foods. Proper Nutrition is essential to longer, healthier lives, and when it becomes consistent in the lives of adolescents, it will remain a lifestyle change.

Reading of Interest• Snacking Behaviours of Adolescents and their

Association with Skipping Meals. Available at http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36

• O'Dea, Jennifer, 1999. Nutrition for Adolescents. Nutridate, 13209701, May99, Vol. 10, Issue 2. Retrieved January 20, 2010 from EBSCO Walden University Library.

• Article: Michelle Obama Calls for Fight Against Child Obesity. Available at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31744.html.

References• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2008. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United

States, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2010 online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/ss/ss5704.pdf.

• National Health Information Center, 2008. School Nutrition Association. Retrieved January 24, 2010 online at http://www.healthfinder.gov/orgs/HR2690.htm.

• O'Dea, Jennifer, 1999. Nutrition for Adolescents. Nutridate, 13209701, May99, Vol. 10, Issue 2. Retrieved January 20, 2010 from EBSCO Walden University Library.

• Nia Malika-Henderson, 2010. Michelle Obama Calls for Fight Against Child Obesity. Retrieved January 24, 2010 online at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31744.html.

• Mayo Foundation, 2008. Water: How Much Should you Drink Everyday? Retrieved January 24, 2010 online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283.

• Atlanta Public Schools, 2008. Welcome to the School Nutrition Department. Retrieved January 10, 2010 online at http://www.atlantapublicschoolsnutrition.us/index.php?sid=0707092223267041.

• Savige, G., MacFarlane, A., Ball,K., Worsley, A., Crawford, D., 2007. Snacking Behaviours of Adolescents and their Association with Skipping Meals. Retrieved January 24, 2010 from http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36 EBSCO, Walden University

• Moeller, D.,(2005). Environmental Health. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

Thank You

Any Questions?