Promoting Healthy Eating At School Healthy Eating Bright Idea (Submitted on August 11, 2004)
What did they want to do? The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School's Child Nutrition Services and the Mecklenberg County Health Department wanted to promote healthy eating at school. We promoted healthy eating by making a variety of changes in the school meal program. Recipes were revised to reduce fat and include an nutritional analysis,vegetarian and vegan entrees were provided. The availability of ethnic food
and soup offerings were expanded and Winner's Circle "Munch Boxes" were provided as an alternative to grocery store boxed meals.
In 2004-2005 we plan on making additional changes such as eliminating French Fries,providing non-starchy vegetables and increasing the availabilty of fiberous foods. In addition all elementary schools and afterschool programs will carry Winner's Circles packaged snacks,whole milk will be replaced with 1% and skim milk and a wellness/nutrition Message of the Day will be offered in all schools.
Who took action? All school cafeterias (149 schools) participate in this program. Child Nutrition Services partners with the Mecklenburg County Health Dept. on the state Winner's Circle Program.
Where did this happen? Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools - school
Demographics
149 schools
117,000+ students
14,570 school employees
43%
3% American Indian
4% Asian
43% African American
9% Hispanic
42% White
Academic Year Implemented 2000-2004 Academic Year
Why did they want to do it? Promote healthy eating at school:
•Recipes revised to reduce fat and include nutritional analysis.
•Fryers removed from all elementary schools
•Vegetarian/Vegan Entrees available daily.
•Implemented the Winner’s Circle Program in all schools. Winner's Circle foods are heart healthy and must include a fruit, vegetable, grain or low fat source of calcium. Foods must be 30% or less fat. Foods are labeled on the cafe line and menus.
•Provide all students a Monthly Check-off calendar to Improve Nutrition and Health.
•Offer Winner’s Circle “Munch Boxes” in all elementary schools to be a healthier alternative to grocery store boxed meals. Munch Boxes are our own creation and they are made at each of the 93 elementary schools. A grocery store boxed lunch is a Lunchable or equivalent that is brought from home by the student. Children can choose off the hot line or take a Mucnch Box with our without milk. Approximately 2000 Munch Boxes are sold per month. We use kid friendly foods, but they must meet the Winner's Circle criteria.
•100% juice replaces 10% fruit juice in all elementary schools.
• Expand ethnic foods and soup offerings.
In 2004-2005:
•Increase Fiber
•Eliminate Whole Milk and serve a variety of 1% and skim milk
•Eliminate French Fries from the school lunch menu.
•Hot Dogs are reduced fat and “pork free”
•Wellness/Nutrition Message of the Day in all schools
•“Ask me about the Star” button for all cafeteria staff to promote Winner’s Circle food choices
•Non-Starchy vegetable offered daily
•All After School/Four Year old snacks will be Winner’s Circle food items.
•All Elementary schools will only carry Winner’s Circle packaged snacks
We continue to strive toward a healthy eating environment in our children.
Background
How did they accomplish their goal? 1. Initially met with the Mecklenburg County Health Department in April 2002 and implemented the project in August 2002. The Food Service Director was very supportative. Partnered with the NC Prevention Partners and the Mecklenburg County Health Department on the Winner's Circle Healthy Dining Program. Winner Circle foods are heart healthy and must include a fruit, vegetable, grain or low fat source of calcium. Foods must be 30% or less fat.
2. Child Nutrition Services was provided with posters and sneeze guard clings to label food choices.
3. Held a Press Conference at the beginning of school in Sept.2002 to kick off the healthy food labeling campaign. TV, radio and newspaper coverage got the word out that school cafeterias have healthy foods choices.
4. Applied for and received a Team Nutrition USDA grant for 2003-2004 school year to expand the Winner's Circle Program. Used grant funds for education, incentives for students, fruit taste testing for 9000+ students and marketing.
5. Expanded Winner's Circle from the cafeteria serving line to secondary school vending machines.
6. Recipe and product revisions are ongoing to expand Winner's Circle choices for students and staff.
7. Expanding the Winner's Circle Program in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007 school years with the Mecklenburg County Health Dept. and a Health and Wellness Trust Fund Grant.
What were their results? Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Child Nutrition Services has proven to be a community leader in the fight against childhood overweight/obesity. The partnership with the local health department and the positive media exposure we have received in the past three years has proven our dedication offering healthy food choices to our students.
The Team Nutrition Grant Project results have shown that 84% of students have knowledge about the Winner's Circle Program and symbol. That is an increase of 16.25% in knowledge for the 2003-2004 school year.
What are their future plans? We are working toward the Eat Smart: North Carolina’s Recommended Standards for All Foods Available in Schools. These standards were released in May 2004 and will encourage the entire community to be a model for healthy eating.
We have expanded part of the Team Nutrition Grant project to all 149 schools and we are providing nutrition education bulletin board kits for all cafeteria managers three times this school year.
We will continue to expand Winner's Circle offerings and expand healthy snacks as new products become available.
For More Information Contact Amy Harkey, MS,RD,LDN Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 3301 Stafford Drive
Charlotte, NC 28208 United States 980-343-6687
[email protected] http://cms.k12.nc.us
