Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn Healthy Eating Bright Idea (Submitted on June 27, 2005)
What did they want to do?
Austin IndependentSchool Districtremoved foods of minimal nutritional value, including sodas and high fat/calorie snack foods, from all vending machines, resulting in an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption by students and staff.
Who took action? Superintendent, Associate Superintendents, Principals, School Health Advisory Council, Coordinator of Student Health Services, Director of Food Services.
Where did this happen? Austin Independent School District - school
Demographics
78,000 students and 10,000 employees
57%
African-American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Other
Academic Year Implemented 2003-2004 Academic Year
Why did they want to do it? Increase healthy food choices for all students K-12.
Background
How did they accomplish their goal?
Step 1. Survey of contents of vending/soda machines.
Step 2. Collaborative meeting between School Health Advisory Council and District representatives.
Step 3. Board of Trustees approval of USDA's Team Nutrition Program.
Step 4. 26 schools voluntary participation in the Team Nutrition Program to improve their school nutrition environment through marketing, increasing awareness of healthy food choices, and providing information in Spanish and English to parents and/or community.
Step 5. Food Service removed all high fat/high calorie snack foods, increased availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, removed all fried foods from lunch menu, added healthier snack options (yogurt, granola bars, etc).
Step 6. Reviewed the Texas Department of Agriculture policy to reduce the availability of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value K-5.
Step 7. Adopted and expanded the Texas Department of Agriculture’s policy to ban all Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value at all campuses K-12. Removed all carbonated beverages and Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value from all snack machines. Restocked all vending machines with healthier options (water, juice, baked chips, granola bars, trail mix, nut mix, pretzels, etc).
Step 8. Encouraged PTA's to sell or make available healthier foods for parties, celebrations, etc.
Step 9. District-wide participation in health and wellness promotion.
What were their results? All campuses removed Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value. Increase in fruit and vegetable consumption by students and staff. Increased awareness and marketing of health and wellness promotion..
What are their future plans? Participation in Steps to a Healthier US grant to address issues related to obesity, asthma, diabetes, and tobacco prevention to increase data tracking of health indicators, development of a district-wide staff wellness program, increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase case-management and early identification of asthma and diabetes, and prevention of tobacoo use, and an increase in daily physical education/activity.
