Bret Harte Healthy Hearts Healthy Eating Bright Idea (Submitted on July 6, 2005)
What did they want to do? A San Jose parent who was fed up with the junk food sold at her daughter's middle school successfully replaces all soda, candy and other foods of minimal nutritional value with healthier snacks in school vending machines, the cafeteria and school store.
Who took action? The program was started by a parent advocate, who was shocked and dismayed to see all the junk food that was sold at her daughter's middle school.
Where did this happen? Bret Harte Middle School - school
Demographics
1275 Students
< 10%
The community is very mixed. There is a large Asian (Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean) and American Indian population, as well as Caucasian.
Academic Year Implemented 2003-2004 Academic Year
Why did they want to do it? The main goal of the program was to eliminate the sale of "junk food,” including soda, candy, and full-fat chips) from the student store. The program was then expanded to eliminate the sale of these items from the entire campus (e.g., vending machines, cafeteria.) Additionally, program planners sought to promote a culture of healthy eating on campus.
Background
How did they accomplish their goal?
1. The parent (Dr. Freedman) contacted the principal to see if changes could be made. Nothing happened for one year.
2. The next year, a new principal came to Bret Harte. In August 2003, Dr. Freedman contacted the new principal with her idea to have the student store sell healthy foods. The principal was interested but there was no progress made until May 2003, when he agreed to a 2-week trial period during STAR 9 testing. The trial was so successful, that it was extended to the entire month of May.
3. Dr. Freedman set up a (Student Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC) at Bret Harte in Sept. 2003. The SNAC was a sub-committee of the Home and School Club. She recruited parents to work in the student store, which is open every day at snack for 10 minutes, and every day at lunch for 30 minutes. She did all the purchasing and accounting, keeping track of inventory and sales.
4. Dr. Freedman met with the head of Student Nutrition Services, the vending machine company, and PEPSI and convinced them to sell healthy alternatives to soda, chips and candy. Within a few months, the Bret Harte campus was effectively "junk food free."
5. By the end of the 2003-04 school year, SNAC proved that children will buy healthy foods and the school will continue to make money.
What were their results? The results were that children consumed healthy foods during snack and lunch and the school made money selling these healthy foods.
What are their future plans? The SNAC committee lives on, and has expanded it's coverage to 15 minutes after school. It also supports the efforts of sports teams that want to provide healthy food for athletes.
