Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating & Physical Activity. Meg Whitbeck MS RDN

Transcription

1 Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Meg Whitbeck MS RDN

2 Overview Obesity Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Strategies that Promote BOTH at the Same Time Tips/Resources Q and A

3 Obesity 34.9% of Americans are obese 68.5% of Americans are overweight or obese 16.9% of children in the US are obese 31.8% of children in the US are overweight or obese Source:

4 Obesity The State of Obesity Interactive Map Massachusetts is Ranked #48 out of % of Adults in Mass are overweight or obese What about our children?

5 Massachusetts Schools and BMI Screening In 2009, Mass began including BMI Screening for grades 1, 4, 7 and 10 Linked to Mass in Motion Efforts BMI data is collected and reported to the Mass Dept. of Public Health (MDPH) Confidential reporting helps us to keep track of our students health Identify students at Nutritional Risk Encourage discussions between parents and health care providers Assists MDPH in monitoring BMI trends across the state Source:

6 Summary Report The Status of Childhood Weight in Massachusetts, % of the children in Mass schools are overweight or obese Remember: 31.8% of US children are overweight or obese Children from homes where the median household income is lower are more likely to be overweight or obese Overweight/Obesity in Mass is declining at about 1% per calendar year

7 What can we do in our schools to help? How can I get resources to support my efforts and programs?

8 What Can We Do? Develop programs and resources in our schools that promote healthy eating and physical activity The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 got the ball rolling: Nutrition standards to improve the quality of meals served in schools Dietary guidance for school meals & competitive foods; New meal patterns District Wellness Policy now required for ALL school districts

9 Review Your Wellness Policy Is it up to date? What Wellness goals have been set? Physical Education Nutrition Education Quality of School Foods Nutrition Promotion Make a note of what goals your program/ideas can achieve

10 Find a Focus What will the focus of your program be? Promote Healthy Eating, Increase Physical Activity or both? If you are continuing or expanding a current program, how can you finetune your focus?

11 Promote Healthy Eating Provide Nutrition Education Integrate Nutrition Promotion into the School Environment Expose Children to Healthy Foods

12 Nutrition Education Children that demonstrate increased nutrition knowledge also report an increase in fruit and vegetable intake. Children who know what the recommended daily servings for fruits and vegetables are more likely to be high consumers of fruits and vegetables. Sources: Wind M, Bjellan M, Perez-Rodrigo C, tevelde S, Hildonen C, Bere E, Klepp K, Brug J. Appreciation and implementation of a schoolbased intervention are associated with changes in fruit and vegetable intake in 10- to 13-year old schoolchildren the Pro Children study. Health Education Research. 2007; 23: Sandeno C, Wolf G, Drake T, Reicks M. Behavioral strategies to increase fruit and vegetable intake by fourth- through sixth-grade students. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000; 100:

13 Barriers to Nutrition Education: Time Aim to incorporate nutrition education into existing classes Wellness, Health, Phys Ed, Culinary Arts Mini Lessons Provide after-school programming that includes nutrition education Greater Flexibility in Lesson Content Smaller Class Sizes Health and Wellness Fairs Effective use of time and resources

14 Barriers to Nutrition Education: Resources Mass Ag in the Classroom The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition National Farm to School Network

15 Nutrition Promotion Integrate Nutrition Promotion into the School Environment Make healthy nutrition messages commonplace in classrooms and in the lunchroom Remember: Nutrition promotion should be a part of every District Wellness Policy!

16 Nutrition Promotion in the School Make an effort to provide educational and inspiring visuals Bulletin Boards & Posters Use Fun Themes: Harvest of the Month, Smart Foods, Fit Foods Free Posters: Local Food, Watermelon Delights Host a food-tasting event for the entire school community Include food demos, tastings, local foods, local farms & guest dietitians and chefs Make an effort to serve healthy foods at school events Start a newsletter or website Monthly, Quarterly

17 Nutrition Promotion in the Lunchroom The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Tailored towards foodservice directors Provides evidence-based strategies to present the food offered in the lunchroom in a way that positively influences student choice

18 Nutrition Promotion in the Classroom Set a healthful example for your students Tell them what you have for snack and lunch Try new foods in front of your students Invite a dietitian, nutrition student or chef into your classroom Challenge students to bring healthful foods to school Classroom healthy eating contests JSI Offers an on-line summer course: Promoting Nutrition in the School Environment

19 Promote Physical Activity Integrate movement into your program/classroom Expand opportunities for movement throughout the school day More Field Days Expand your knowledge and resources: Take the Promoting Physical Activity in the Schools on-line summer course from JSI

20 Promote Physical Activity Expand opportunities for movement throughout the school day. Include physical activity as a part of the regular school day Make movement count spurts of activity can be just as beneficial as sustained activity

21 Promote Physical Activity in the Classroom Integrate movement into your program/classroom. School garden Movement stimulates brain activity 5-minute activity periods: Brain Breaks Jumping jacks, (wall) squats, arm circles, dance party, footwork, lunges Activity challenges and competitions

22 The Next Step: Physical Activity Apply for a Fuel Up To Play-60 Grant Getting Students Active with FUTP 60 Start BOKS at your School

23 A Note About In-Class Efforts Modeling of healthy behaviors increases the consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity in children Spending 5-10 minutes per day modeling healthy behaviors will have an impact! Source: Gortmaker S, Cheung L, Peterson K, Chomitz G, Cradle K, Dart H, Fox M, Bullock R, Sobol A, Colditz G, Field A, Laird N. Impact of a school-based interdisciplinary intervention on diet and physical activity among urban primary school children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999; 153:

24 Strategies to Promote Nutrition Education & Physical Activity at the Same Time Nutrition Lessons During PE Classes Health and Wellness Fairs Farm Tours / Field Trips School Gardens

25 Health and Wellness Fairs Combine nutrition education and promotion with physical activity Make it a community-wide event Generate support from the community and foster relationships Include booths and stations that cover a variety of topics on a theme Students work in pairs or teams to set up booths covering the theme Achieves curriculum goals Fundraising opportunity

26 Farm Tours & Field Trips Incorporate physical activity and nutrition education by taking students on an educational field trip Family farms, botanical gardens, restaurant tours, sustainable fishery tours, dairy farms, orchards, farmers markets Farm field trips can include some minor farm work/chores, volunteering

27 School Gardens The ultimate way to promote healthy eating and physical activity! Increases student exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables Children exposed to fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis are 3.2 times more likely to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day Students not involved in the garden program directly can benefit, too! Better food in the classroom and cafeteria Increases physical activity Source: Nanney M, Johnson S, Elliott M, Haire-Joshu D. Frequency of eating homegrown produce is associated with higher intake among parents and their preschool-aged children in rural Missouri. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007; 107:

28 School Gardens: Quick Tips 1. Start Small: Containers, herb garden, single crop 2. Build a Solid Core Team: Year-round dedication 3. Foster Community Support and Partnerships: Retirees, Local Businesses 4. Fundraise and Apply for Grants 5. Grow Slowly on purpose! 6. Partner with School Foodservice and Local Health District

29 Farm to School Act of 2015 The Farm to School Act of 2015 will continue and expand upon the successes of the USDA Farm to School Grant Program by: Fully including preschools, summer food service program sites and after school programs on the list of eligible entities; Increasing annual mandatory funding from $5 million to $15 million to better meet the high demand and need for this funding; Increasing access among tribal schools to farm-fresh and traditional foods, especially from tribal producers; and Improve program participation from beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Source:

30 Farm to School Act of 2015 What this means for YOU is more grant money is available! Apply for a grant and get in touch with the Massachusetts Farm to School contacts

31 School Garden Resources Mass Ag in the Classroom National Farm to School Network / Mass Farm to School Life Lab USDA Farm to School

32 JSI Resource Center Child Obesity Health and Academic Achievement the Learning Connection report School Wellness Physical Activity Go Green for Schools

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35 What will YOU do?

36 Thank You Open Q and A Session Meg Whitbeck MS RDN: mwhitbeck@framingham.edu

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