National School Lunch Program Week - Wills Point ISD

Wills Point ISD

National School Lunch Week October 14-18, 2013

Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Agenda


• The facts about school meals

• National School Lunch Week

• “School Lunch Across the USA”

• How to get involved

School Lunch


National School Lunch Program (NSLP)•31 million children served daily•95% of schools participate in NSLP

Our district’s Lunch Program•Over 1700 students are served through the Wills Point ISD Free/Reduced School Lunch Program•69% of students participate in NSLP•4783 lunches served in September

The Facts


School lunches always include:

Milk – Lowfat or fat freeVegetables – From jicama to fresh carrotsFruit – Everything from kiwi to fresh apple slicesGrains – Whole grains in bread, pasta, and pizza crustProtein – lean meats and beans

The Facts


• Fresh fruits and veggies• Whole grains• Reduced/zero TransFats• Salads/salad bars• Lowfat dairy • Baked items rather than fried• Healthy cooking and prep

techniques

• Fresh fruits and veggies• Whole grains• Reduced/zero TransFats• Salads/salad bars• Lowfat dairy • Baked items rather than fried• Healthy cooking and prep

techniques

The Facts


School meals help students to do better in school!

•Research has shown that students who eat school meals perform their best academically.

•Healthy eating correlates with less trips to the school nurse and less absenteeism.

•Providing nutritious school breakfast on testing days – and every school day - leads to improved test scores.

*Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001

The Facts


What about the childhood obesity crisis?

•There is no evidence that either the school breakfast or lunch program is contributing to rising rates of childhood obesity.

•Children who eat school lunch are more likely to consume milk, fruit & veggies and less likely to consume desserts and snack items than children who do not. *

•Students are less likely to gain weight during the school year when in school than during the summer when school is out.

*Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, February 2009

New Standards for School Meals


The USDA’s nutrition standards for schools meals have changed:

•Students are offered both fruits and vegetables daily•Increased offering of whole grains•Only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties•Calories limited based on the age of children being served•Reduced saturated fat, trans fats and sodium

What is National SchoolLunch Week?


• Annual celebration of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), using a fun theme

• Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962

• It provides the opportunity to highlight the important, positive role of school lunch nationwide

What is National SchoolLunch Week?


“Across the USA” in 2013


The 2013 NSLW theme, “School Lunch Across the USA”, celebrates the regional culture and dishes from across the

country

The 2013 NSLW theme, “School Lunch Across the USA”, celebrates the regional culture and dishes from across the

country

What’s New on Our Menu


What’s New on Our Menu


Getting Involved


Teachers and Administrators can:• Visit the cafeteria during lunch

• Encourage the school nutrition director to make presentations about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle at PTA meetings and in the classroom

• Talk about “School Lunch Across the USA” during assembly

• Making cooking techniques or healthy eating topics part of the curriculum

Getting Involved


Parents can:• Parents and school nutrition professionals share the

same goals: Well-balanced nutritious meals for their kidsCreating healthy eating habits for life

• Visit the cafeteria and have lunch with your child

• Encourage healthy eating and lifestyles at home for you and your kids (actions speak louder than words!)

• Create a “Across the USA” night at PTO or PTAs

Thanks for Your Time!


Learn about National School Lunch Week:www.schoolnutrition.org/nslw

Get the facts about school meals:www.traytalk.org

Take Your Parents to Lunch Day: www.myhealthyschool.com

http://www.schoolnutrition.org/nslw

http://www.traytalk.org/

http://www.myhealthyschool.com/

Health & Medicine

National School Lunch Program Week - Wills Point ISD