Just in time for back to school a new video created by Farm to School Movement”Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind”

Learn more about the Farm to School Movement and Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization at www.onetray.org

Related resources and action guides:

Sign a online petition to support the movement via onetray.org

Community Action Guide to Change School Food Policy- PDF

School Food Article by Nourish Healthy Kids

The “Let’s Move” campaign, lead by Michelle Obama, has incorporated the Healthier US School challenge into her campaign.   As part of her goal to raise a healthier generation of kids, there are monetary incentive awards for schools that are focusing on healthier alternatives as part of their lunch program.

Currently 732 schools from 32 states have recognition and an award for their work.  Her goal is to have 1250 schools receive an award by June 2011.

Learn more how your school can participate and be recognized for helping kids be healthier

Awards include

• Bronze – $500
• Silver- $1000
• Gold- $1500
• Gold Award of Distinction- $2000

Thank you Teachers for a wonderful year of learning.   We want you to know that we appreciate the caring and supportive manner in which you teach our children every day.  We applaud your dedication and part in raising a healthy child and incorporating nutrition education as part of your curriculum.

Nutrition is really the core subject for creating a healthy child and to say thank you, Nourish Interactive made this image just for you!

Have a wonderful summer and looking forward to more nutrition fun at the start of the new school year!

Resources:

Summer Backpack Kit - Keep the kids on track for healthy choices this summer with a daily healthy tips calendar, snacking tips and a cute healthy snacks tracking sheet.

We are very proud to announce that the American Library Association (ALA) has just notified Nourish Interactive that we have received the Seal “Greatest Websites for Kids”.   Our website will be added to the Association for Library Service to Children website directory of “Greatest Websites for Kids”.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the ALA,  is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children.  Their selection critieria for determining a great site for kids includes:

• Authorship/Sponsorship: Who Put up the Site?
• Purpose: Every Site Has a Reason for Being There.
• Design and Stability: A Great Site Has Personality and Strength of Character.
• Content: A Great Site Shares Meaningful and Useful Content that Educates, Informs, or Entertains.

Look for the the formal announcement by the ALA in June.  We will update this blog with a link to the press release.

Nourish Interactive’s Website offers a free membership to play it’s featured game ” Chef Solus and The Food Pyramid Adventure” a 7 level interactive flash game for elementary school children, with printable certificates of achievement for each level completed and progress reports for parents and teachers.

The website is offered in English or Spanish and has areas designed for parents, educators & kids:
Parents - Nutrition articles, healthy family tips sheets, interactive wellness tools       

Teachers -Free health and nutrition lesson plans, online educational games, worksheets and a variety of learning tools for teachers, health care providers and communities

Kids -Fun games and stories that teach kids about nutrition and promote healthy eating habits. Interactive games help children learn about the USDA Food Pyramid, The Food Groups, Balanced Meals and more

The Fun Way to Learn About Nutrition!

I have been following the new TV show “Food Revolution” the last couple of weeks.  Was anyone shocked to hear that french fries are counted as a vegetable?

No wonder many reports are showing that french fry is the number one vegetable consumed by kids.  I am not trying to discount the benefits of the potato, but after it has been soaked and deep fried in oil, the vitamins are pretty much gone.  All the healthy fiber and nutrients on the peel are gone.

A baked potato has about1 gram of fat and a regular order of french fries (not the large order) has 11 grams or fat or 2 3/4 teaspoon of fat.  Since when are vegetables high in fat?

So how is french fry a vegetable?

These are some of the problems we have with today’s food systems that are feeding our kids.  We have to move away from “meeting quotas” and move toward common sense.  The only way this is going to change is by all of us getting involved.

The Child’s Nutrition Act is in Congress.  Contact your senator and let them know you want a healthy lunch program funded for our kids.

Here is an easy way to let your voice be hear with the online Healthy School Campaign letter.

Michelle Obama has really helped promote a new trend and a very healthy one,  fresh farm foods.

I know many schools are trying to incorporate fresh grown fruits and vegetables into their cafeteria program and their nutrition education programs.  I ran across this fairly new organization and wanted to share it with you.

Farm to School brings healthy food from local farms to school children nationwide. The program teaches students about the path from farm to fork, and instills healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. At the same time, use of local produce in school meals and educational activities provides a new direct market for farmers in the area and mitigates environmental impacts of transporting food long distances.

They have created a network to help parents and teachers find this type of program into their local schools.   Meeting local farmers and learning about how foods are grown are all part of helping kids love nutrition!

Find a Farm to School Program by clicking on your state.

Related Resources- from our website Nourish Interactive:

Fruits and vegetables worksheets

Food pyramid food groups – fun coloring and learning sheets

I attended the Network for a Healthy California earlier this week in Sacramento, CA.  This meeting was attended by predominantly schools from around California who are providing innovative ways to promote nutrition to children.  I think what really impressed me is their commitment to making nutrition education part of their curriculum.  With all the budget deficits, cuts to program funds and to teachers, they continue to work together and share ideas and resources so children can learn the importance of healthy living.

Their studies are showing that teaching children about fruits and vegetables and healthy choices is making a difference.  It was exciting to see such a positive impact and very motivating to keep doing the work we do here at NourishInteractive.com to support them.

I was happy to be able to attend and share with them our free nutrition tools and games.  Schools are actively looking for resources to help them bring nutrition and exercise into the schools despite limited funding.  So please, take the time to pass on our website to your child’s school.  We are here to help them and rely on word of mouth to spread our resources.

You can print out this flyer and drop off to your child’s teacher or principal.

The Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Act of 2009 was introduced to Capitol Hill on December 16th.  This bill essentially would require all elementary schools to offer a salad bar as part of their lunch program.

Research has shown that having a variety of fruits and vegetables in the cafeteria significantly increases the amount of fruits and vegetables kids eat.

We also have learned that kids will be more apt to try new items when a variety of fruits and vegetables are offered.

This makes sense.  Kids, just like us, need variety and have personal likes and dislikes.  A salad bar would give them a nice array of choices to meet most kids preferences.  Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables is so important for a balanced and healthy diet.  Unfortunately, most kids don’t get the required amount of these foods which means their body is not getting the nutrition it needs to be healthy, fight diseases and build a strong immune system.

We know that schools across America are trying to find ways to offer better, healthier foods but are strapped by their current budget.  We need to step up and support them.  Kids are the future of our country.

The Child Reauthorization is happening in early 2010 and important decisions about funding, food quality and requirements will be decided.  You can make a difference by contacting your local congressperson.

Tell congress you want healthy school lunches for kids

More resources and information about this campaign.

Other resources for creating a healthy lunch for your child

Get the kids involved in easy and fun “back to school healthy lunch food” ideas

Put a smile on your child’s face at lunchtime with fun printable healthy lunch cards

Tips on handling the picky eater’s school lunch- healthy school lunch foods for kids

Simple solution to get kids eating their school lunch.

Back to school – help kids make healthy food choices in the school cafeteria

It is surprising to read that 24.4% of children ages 2 – 5 years old are either overweight or obese.  That means that 1 out of every 4 preschooler is overweight/obese.   I know that I am always talking about the family setting and what can be done to help kids be more active and eat healthier.  But when I read that near.y 74% of children 3-6 are in some form of childcare setting away from home, that got me thinking.

These childcare settings also have a great influence on the eating and activity habits of these children.  Just think how many children are eating one or two of their main meals away from home.  I found that each state has regulations that help child care facilities and preschools promote kids’ health and prevent childhood obesity.

The Robert Woods Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating childhood obesity, has just released a report about how well each these child care facilities are doing at meeting these regulations.  Read the whole report:  Preventing Obesity In The Child Care Setting, Evaluating State Regulations.

According the report, here are the grades that each state received based on how well they met state regulations on healthy eating and physical activity.

Read the report about your particular state.

In my last blog, I shared with you some interesting information about the current school meal programs that are serving millions of kids across America.

Here is an opportunity to take a few minutes and write your congressman about the Child Nutrition Act which affects the nutrition requirements for kids’ school meal.

Nourish Interactive has become partners with Slow Food USA and their movement to get congress to make a difference in the quality and nutrition of our children’s school meals. Congress will be acting on this bill early next year so there is still time to write.

Slow Food USA has a School Lunch Fact Sheet you can read.

There are simple ways to get involved that only take a few minutes of your time:

You can sign this petition online (simple and quick)

You can write a letter to your congressman (writing resources to make it easy for you to write – with a short sample letter)

In fact, they have resources to help kids write letters too!

Congress needs to hear from each one of us that we want healthy foods for our kids! Each letter can make a difference. Don’t forget, congress will be voting on this early next year!

More resources and information about this campaign.

Other resources for creating a healthy lunch for your child

Get the kids involved in easy and fun “back to school healthy lunch food” ideas

Put a smile on your child’s face at lunchtime with fun printable healthy lunch cards

Tips on handling the picky eater’s school lunch- healthy school lunch foods for kids

Simple solution to get kids eating their school lunch.

Back to school – help kids make healthy food choices in the school cafeteria

Get the kids involved in easy and fun “back to school healthy lunch food” ideas

Put a smile on your child’s face at lunchtime with fun printable healthy lunch cards

Tips on handling the picky eater’s school lunch- healthy school lunch foods for kids

Simple solution to get kids eating their school lunch.

Back to school – help kids make healthy food choices in the school cafeteria