1	Taming the Wild Beast: Alternatives to Pop Machines
2	Overview Nutrition Recent Legislation School Policies Fundraising Advocacy & Collaboration Resources
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4	Nutrition impacts learning and health! Nutrition Health
5	The links between nutrition and learning Improved attendance Improved learning Lower rates of tardiness Improved behavior Fewer visits to school nurse Essential for brain development Increased attention span Increased creativity Reduction of disruptive behavior
6	School Staff and Parent Concerns Lack of guidelines on vending machines Sale of food in classrooms Lack of healthy choices at school meals Lack of food/snack policies in classrooms Lack of time to teach nutrition Fundraising with unhealthy foods
7	Sophisticated Customers Today’s Children & Youth: Bombarded by advertising Demand brand name products Accustomed to choices Dine out often Aware of food trends Demand variety and quality
8	Beverages Available in the US Food Supply
9	Percentage of US Youth Who Met Dietary Recommendations for Calcium Intake, By Age and Sex, 1988-94
10	Comments made at a recent Legislative gathering: Health education and nurses are no match for the advertising that come into our schools. Schools want to change and give students healthy options, however, funding limits this; Vending machines exist because of pubic demand; It takes longer to eat healthy than eat something fast; The bottom line is that nutrition is ultimately the family’s choice; Nutrition and health influence how a student learns;
11	Comments… Kids can barter with food For a lot of low-income families, health is not the first concern on their agenda WA is 5^th in nation for hunger ASB’s bring in dollars to schools, look a they can raise money without selling food This has to be a community effort Schools need help buying their way out of marking contracts
12	Many Children Are Failing Healthy Eating The amount of milk purchased by school districts fell by nearly 30% from 1985 to 1997. Districts bought 1100% more soft drinks during the same period. Nearly half of 8^th and 10^th grade kids eat three or more snacks daily, with most of these snacks high in sugar, sodium, and fat. (ASHA)
13	Many Children Are Failing Healthy Eating Only 2% meet all the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid: 16% do not meet any (US Dept. of Health) Less that 15% of school children eat the recommended servings of fruit (USDA) Less than 20% of school children eat the recommended servings of vegetables (CDC) About 25% eat the recommended servings of grains Only 30% consume the recommended milk group servings (USDA)
14	Senate Bill 5436 -- 2004 Directed the convening of an advisory committee (WSSDA, OSPI, DOH, WA HPER&D) to develop a model policy for school districts regarding access to: Nutritious foods Opportunities for developmentally appropriate exercise Accurate information
15	Senate Bill 5436 (cont.) Model policy will address: Nutritional content of food and beverages sold/provided at school Availability/quality of health, nutrition, PE, and fitness curriculum Development of PE/fitness curriculum Statewide model policy in place by 1/1/2005 School district policies in place by 8/1/2005
16	School Policies – What’s Happening? Seattle (adopted 9/1/04) Establishes nutritional standards for food and beverages sold in schools Addresses distribution and sales of all competitive foods Becomes effective 2004-05 second semester
17	School Policies – What’s Happening? Everett (adopted 8/24/2004) Establishes nutritional standards for food and beverages sold in schools; focus on low sugar, low fat, reasonably-sized portions Phased in over next two years No deep-fried foods, no soft drinks Beverage choices: 100 percent juice, low fat or nonfat milk and water
18	School Policies – What’s Happening? (cont.) Olympia (adopted 5/24/04) Establishes nutritional standards for food and beverages sold in schools Establishes timeframes for sale of non-vended beverages and candy Candy – discourages use as classroom rewards Vending contracts approved by Supt.
19	Basic Fundraising Principles National PTA Position on Fundraising The 3 to 1 Rule When planning the year’s activities, PTAs and parent groups should use the 3-to-1 rule. For every fund-raising activity, there should be at least 3 non-fundraising projects aimed at helping parents or advocating for school improvement
20	Finding the Replacement Funding Planned Giving Capital Campaigns Endowments Grants Creative Fundraising
21	What Can Schools Do? Give consistent messages Help inform students, parents about importance of nutrition and the link to learning Support healthy choices for students and staff
22	What Can Parent Groups do? Offer non-food rewards, or healthy foods as rewards Re-consider fundraising efforts Partner with school nurses to provide information to parents
23	What We Can Do Together Establish comprehensive nutrition policies Address food and beverage contracts Make more healthful foods available Limit access to competitive foods Examine fund-raising efforts Become informed – hear from experts, gather local data from parents, students, school staff, administrators, school directors, and vendors
24	Involve Vendors Align their interests with yours Ask for their help Repeat intent Demand accountability Thank them!
25	Promoting a Healthy School Environment All food and beverages available at school make a positive contribution to healthy choices Parents send healthy foods for snacks (Healthy Classroom Snack Guidelines) Only healthy food is used for fund raising
26	Other Considerations Food is not used as a reward or punishment Access to vending machines is limited
27	"“Kids have to be..." “Kids have to be healthy to learn, and they have to learn to be healthy. Healthy kids make better students. Better students make healthy communities.” -William Potts-Datema, Harvard School of Public Health
28	Collaboration is Key!
29	Resources Action for Healthy Kids American Academy of Pediatrics Children’s Alliance Project Lean (Google to find!)
30	Mary Kenfield-WSPTA Government Relations Director, mkenfield@wastatepta.org www.wastatepta.org