Easy Ways Schools Can Improve Student Nutrition That Support The NSLP
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally funded program that aims to provide reduced cost, nutritionally-balanced lunches to eligible students. Requiring a fruit, vegetable, dairy milk, protein, and whole grains, the NSLP has had great success in encouraging students to eat healthy meals at school, improving their academic success and some health outcomes. Unfortunately, this is not enough to influence the future generations to continue to make healthy choices and really empower them to take their health into their own hands.
School staff and wellness committees have the unique opportunity to help make positive changes by taking small steps within the school system to improve student health while teaching them about nutrition. I have found that students enjoy engaging in new things and they want to learn about nutrition because it can be so personal. Every student has had a friend, family member, acquaintance, teacher, or someone in their life make comments about food choices- whether their own or the students. At such a young age, it can be difficult to understand our unique needs for nutrition. Health curriculum sometimes misses the mark by generalizing nutrition to issues that may not matter to students at the time. This isn’t to say discussing topics like eating disorders, balanced meals, calories, and health conditions related to intake aren’t vital, we just need to be addressing the other factors that they didn’t even know they want to know!
Here are some ways we can do better in schools to improve student nutrition:
Spruce up the cafeteria with signage: A fun and easy way to help guide students’ decision-making in the cafeteria is to display signs that help them understand the components of a balanced lunch whether they’re participating in the NSLP or not. Posters emphasizing fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and protein options on a tray serves as a good guide to remind students how to incorporate all the pieces of a balanced meal.
Get staff, parents, and caregivers involved: Send home educational material for caregivers with recommendations on packing healthy lunches, smart snacking, the benefits of family meals and taking part in physical activity. Not only do students influence parents but parents, with the right resources, are able to influence the household. Make it a fun challenge or a project students and parents can do together!
Choose seasonal produce: When ordering fruits and veggies for school meals, opt for local farms and orchards to ensure the best quality produce. Sure, applesauce is a good fruit alternative but presenting fruit and vegetables in their raw form encourages students to eat them and try new things. Alternative options are a great, cost-effective way to add vitamins and minerals to the plate and they offer students options. All I’m saying is having local, seasonal produce as another option is a great way to support students’ health as well as the community!
Encourage trying new things: One thing that gets students attention at any age is seeing extra “treats”! For younger kiddos, introducing different colored vegetables in a “Taste the Rainbow” type of event encourages them to try new or familiar veggies plain and simple. For teens, offering nutrient-packed treats like apples, cider, and pumpkin bread during a “fall harvest” event gives them something new and exciting while also providing some fiber, energy, and fun during an otherwise regular school day!
Host wellness challenges: Ever heard of a company wide step-count challenge? Try something similar with students! It doesn’t have to be creating a step goal but maybe its creating teams who participate in a bake off. They have to use one vegetable in a baked good and then present to a panel of judges. Whoever wins, gets to run the principle’s office for the day! Letting students be creative while also presenting a challenge surrounding healthy foods makes eating the veggie just a little more exciting. I would be totally down to judge a competition with some zucchini bread or carrot cake muffins!
For help creating and implementing these projects, reach out to me at camillev.patten@gmail.com. I am happy to help bring these to life to support your students!
