The American School Nutrition Association just released their 2008 Back to School Nutrition Trends Report. Based on answers from 358 school nutrition directors in July 2008 the report addresses: 1) What food and beverage items most popular with students, 2) The nutrition policies and practices with school nutrition programs, and 3) The economic issues facing school nutrition programs. Buy the pdf report online for 30$.
Archive for category School nutrition
The EU Commission invites submission of posters for forthcoming conference on School Fruit Scheme
Aug 13
On 8 July 2008, the European Commission presented its proposal for the introduction of an EU-wide School Fruit Scheme (SFS). In order to kick-start the linked networking activities, the Commission is now organising a major conference, bringing together experts from all Member states. This event will take place in Brussels in December 2008. As part of this conference there will be a poster exhibition of best practice models to provide SFS project promoters and stakeholders with examples for establishing or improving a School Fruit Scheme. Interested parties are now invited to submit models as posters for this exhibition. These posters must be designed to deliver ‘operational’ information in an easily understandable way. The posters will be exhibited during the conference and published on the Europa website. Full details on how to submit best practice models can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/fruitveg/sfs/events/conference/index_en.htm
WCRF/AICR on Aug 7th also made a satement related to those of The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an anti-meat advocacy organization and The American Meat Institute. Find the WCRF/AICR statement here.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) responds to news releases published recently by the ‘œCenter for Consumer Freedom’ and the American Meat Institute (AMI).
Center for Consumer Freedom tries arguments like: ‘No single food ensures good health, just as no single food is necessarily detrimental to health’. They say they want to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices!
American Meat Institute has on Aug 7th responded with a statement that attacks the WCRF/AICR report by citing alternate conclusions that were reached by a review of the evidence that was commissioned by AMI. Such an ad hoc literature review, paid for by an interested party and conducted by two scientists alone, lacks the scope, objectivity and rigor of which the AICR expert report is a model.
A Dutch school-based obesity prevention program was succesful in reducing the average soft drink intake in 418 boys by 300 ml/day and 436 girls by 222 ml/day. The children were 12-13 years old. No effect was seen on consumption of high caloric snacks, screen-viewing behaviour; and active commuting to school.
On youtube you can find the “Protect our kids”-video. And you can find more info and see how the campaign is relating to the USDA Child Nutrition Act on http://www.cancerproject.org/media/cna_help.php
The Cancer Project, a non-profit organization in AUSTIN, Texas, is running commercials in Austin to support the ban of all processed meat from the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The group wants deli meat, hot dogs and hamburgers taken off school menus.
A dietitian from University of Michigan says that a balanced, healthy diet enables chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters to function more efficiently. This produces better concentration and memory. Parents can take several steps to create well-balanced meals and snacks that provide children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school.