Nearly 100 Illinois schools earn HealthierUS School Challenge certificationÂ
Â
SPRINGFIELD, IL — Educators and health experts from across the state discussed updated nutrition standards and innovative physical education strategies Thursday during the fifth annual Illinois School Wellness and Recognition Conference in Springfield. To date, 94 Illinois schools have earned HealthierUS School Challenge certification by adopting federal nutrition standards for food served in schools, providing nutrition education and increasing opportunities for physical activity.
“Conferences such as this one are critical as we try to reverse the tide of childhood obesity and guide students toward healthy lifestyles that allow them to succeed in the classroom and contribute to society,†said State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. “As a state and a nation, we still have a long way to go, but we also have made strides in terms of raising awareness and making changes for a healthier generation.â€
The day-long conference, sponsored by Action for Healthy Kids Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Nutrition Education and Training Program, featured a variety of sessions, including a workshop on implementing the new USDA School Nutrition Standards in the 2012-13 school year. The standards provide age-appropriate calorie limits, larger servings of vegetables and fruits, a wider variety of vegetables, fat-free or one-percent milk and more whole grains.
Some tips shared for compliance with the new standards include:
Â
Incorporate whole-grain rich foods into student favorites to increase acceptability.
Add a salad bar with an array of vegetables.
Add legumes, such as beans, to a variety of dishes, including soups, salads, sides and entrees.
Involve students as part of the menu planning process by conducting taste tests.
Partner with a local chef and/or farm to introduce new healthy recipes and locally-grown produce.
Cornell University research specialist Adam Brumberg offered a keynote presentation about increasing healthy food selection and consumption in school cafeterias. Brumberg is the Deputy Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab where research has driven the creation of the Smarter Lunch Rooms Movement, and the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs(BEN)—two programs devoted to research concerning children’s health.
Other sessions focused on the Illinois Farm-to-School program and increasing physical activity during the school day as well as new standards for the HealthierUS School Challenge. Â Photos from the conference are available upon request.
Schools that have met the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge are recognized with Gold of Distinction, Gold, Silver, or Bronze-level certification. Award-winning Illinois schools are listed below.
