Health: Pre-ordering school meals leads to healthier eating

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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It’s hard to resist a tater tot when you’re hungry, but pre-ordering meals at school can lead to healthier choices.

Study in New York shows significant change in food choices

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Not long after reporting that bite-sized fruit pieces spur healthier eating at school, Cornell researchers have released new findings suggesting that pre-ordering food would also help improve the dietary habits of school kids.

The study builds on the conventional wisdom that shopping for food while hungry can lead to unhealthy choices. According to the scientists, hungry people are especially sensitive to sights and smells of foods that will satiate, but may lack in nutrient content. (more…)

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Health: Bite-size fruit a better bet for school meals

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Kids at school are more likely to eat fruit if it’s pre-sliced, a new study shows.

Study shows dramatic increase in consumption when fruit is sliced

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Most parents know that kids coming home from school are more likely to eat fruit that’s been cut into bite-sized pieces. That same technique might encourage youngsters to eat more healthy foods as part of their school lunch, according to new research from Cornell University who tested the idea in eigh elementary schools.

Previous studies and surveys have shown that kids love to eat fruit in ready-to-eat bite-sized pieces, yet in most school settings, the fruit is served whole, which could be the reason children are taking fruits but not eating them.

Most people believe that children avoid fruit because of the taste and allure of alternative packaged snacks. A study by Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab researchers Brian Wansink, David Just, Andrew Hanks, and Laura Smith decided to get to the bottom of why children were avoiding their fruit. (more…)

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Health: Pizza-as-vegetable battle heats up again

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Colorado Congressman Polis seeks to restore common sense to school nutrition policy

Pizza may be good, but it’s not a vegetable, according to Congressman Jared Polis. IMAGE VIA WIKIPEDIA AND THE CREATIVE COMMONS.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado Congressman Jared Polis squarely aimed his political guns at agribusinesses this week, unveiling a bill that would roll back last year’s “absurd decision” by Congress to define pizza as a vegetable in school meals.

At issue are U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines issued last year that would have prevented pizza from being counted as a vegetable in school meals. But after intense lobbying by the frozen food industry, Congress backed down and decided that the smear of tomato paste on a slice of pizza qualifies as a “vegetable.” (more…)

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Health: Polis seeks to end the school-lunch pizza loophole

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Pizza pie! PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

Bill to be introduced next week

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — There’s nothing wrong with a good slice of pizza every now and then, but nutrition advocates draw the line at defining the popular Italian food as a vegetable. But that’s exactly what Congress did last November, when they carved a set of far-reaching loopholes into a new set of nutritional standards for school lunches.

Of course nobody actually believes pizza should be classified as a vegetable, and there was a lot winking and nudging going on last year, as food industry lobbyists cozied up with their Congressional counterparts to pass the exemptions.

Deep-pocketed companies like ConAgra Foods, Inc, and Schwan Food Co,  as well as French fry makers McCain Foods Ltd and J.R. Simplot Co all cashed in their political chips to weaken government proposals for voluntary food marketing guidelines to children. (more…)

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Healthier school lunches on the way with new USDA rules

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to mandate more fruits and vegetables in school lunches, but is facing resistance from the industrial food preparation lobby.

Feds look to boost fruits and veggies while cutting starch and fats

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Just in time for the new school year, the Department of Agriculture is hoping to finalize new rules that require minimum amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in school meals while limiting fats and calories.

Health experts say the new standards will reduce health care costs stemming from health problems partly caused by low-quality school food, including the estimated $344 billion national cost of obesity costs through 2018.

Approximately one in three children is overweight or obese, and rising rates of Type II diabetes among children, along with other health problems such as hypertension, have some origin in the poor nutritional quality of food offered at public schools.

The proposed standards would significantly increase fruit and vegetables at lunch (one cup per day), require that they be served daily, require minimum amounts of dark green vegetables and place limits on starchy vegetables. (more…)

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Polis school meal provisions rolled into broader bill

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis.

Congress seeks tougher nutrition standards for cafeteria lunches

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Several provisions from Congressman Jared Polis earlier child-nutrition bills have been rolled into a broader measure introduced by U.S. Rep.  George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Miller’s bill aims to improve the quality of school meals, support community efforts to reduce childhood hunger and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. A fact sheet on the legislation is available here.

“Making sure that our children get a world-class education has always been one of my top goals in Congress and in Colorado, and that simply cannot be accomplished if our children don’t get the proper nutrition to make it through the day,” said Polis.  (more…)

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Polis wants to make school meals healthier

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Recent studies show that children relying on school lunch programs are more likely to be obese than their counterparts.

U.S. House, Senate both looking at child nutrition issues and combating childhood obesity

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Congressman Jared Polis wants the Department of Agriculture to create a pilot project aimed at delivering healthier lunches in school cafeterias around the country.

“Childhood obesity has tripled over the past thirty years, and children are increasingly afflicted with adult diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, as a direct result of their unhealthy diet and lifestyles,” Polis said in a statement on his introduction of the The Healthy School Meals Act (H.R. 4870).

The measure is aimed at curbing an epidemic of childhood obesity — “one of the greatest threats to America’s health and economy,” according to First Lady Michelle Obama. Polis wants to expand access to healthy alternatives in school cafeterias.

One provision would offer incentives, in the form of supplemental funding, for schools that offer healthier, vegetable-based meal options.

Slow Food USA, a nonprofit group promoting more food consciousness, has a national online campaign advocating for healthier school meals.

The U.S. Senate is also considering a measure to improve school meals. Arkansas Senator Blanche Nelson introduced a Child Nutrition Act that would provide up to $4.5 billion in new child nutrition funding over ten years. Lincoln’s draft measure boosts funding for child nutrition programs by $500 million per year, and includes stronger nutrition standards.

“The easiest way to stop kids from eating fatty foods is by providing them with the healthiest options possible, but many schools simply cannot afford them.” Polis said. This bill will help a growing nationwide effort to improve children’s eating patterns by encouraging and supporting schools to offer more healthy eating options,” he added. (more…)

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