Iowa Department of Education

Division of Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation

Julia Thorius, M.S. R.D. L.D.

Team Nutrition: A Partner in Preventing Childhood Overweight and Obesity

Schools Can Make a Difference• Nutrition and Physical Activity are

Important to Students• A Healthy School Nutrition and Physical

Activity Environment impacts Behavior

Team Nutrition Mission Statement

To improve the health and educationof children by creating innovative

public and private partnerships that promote food choices for a healthful diet through the media, schools, families,

and the community.

Team Nutrition Principles

• Children should be empowered to make wise food choices

• Good nutrition and physical activity are essential to health and education

• School meals that meet the Dietary Guidelines should appeal to children and taste good

Team Nutrition Goal: To improve children’s lifelong

eating and physical activity habits

4 - Messages6 - Channels3 - Strategies

4 Team Nutrition MessagesConsistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

• Eat more fruits, vegetables and grains (focus on whole grains)

• Eat a variety of foods• Eat foods lower in fat more often• Be physically active

6 Team Nutrition ChannelsForm a comprehensive network

for message delivery and reinforcement

•Foodservice initiative•Classroom activities•School-wide event•Home activities•Community programs and events•Media events and coverage

3 Team Nutrition Strategies

Use social learning theory and social marketing approach

Behavior-oriented strategies• Training and technical assistance• Nutrition curriculum and

education

• Build school and community support

Iowa Team Nutrition Overview

•1995 USDA Pilot TN Community Project

(7 districts nationally, 1 in Iowa--Des Moines Public Schools)

Implementation PreK-K, 1-2, and 3-5

Paired schools, core evaluation 4th grade

•1997 TN Training Grant - support and training in Area Education Agencies (25 schools)

Iowa Team Nutrition Overview

• 1999 Three year Demonstration Project Grant (4 states nationally, 10 schools participated in Iowa project)

• 2000 TN Training Grant - focused on Early Childhood population in childcare and schools. Physical Activity and Healthy Snack resources were developed to support caregivers in putting the Dietary Guidelines into practice.

Key Iowa Developed Resources

CACFP Setting the Stage Kit– Policies and Best Practices– Physical Activity and Snack Cards– Lessons– USDA pieces– Video Tape Center and Home Setting– Interstitials – 30 second IPTV

Physical Activities and Healthy Snacks

for Young Children

Iowa Team Nutrition Overview

• 2001 Team Nutrition Training Grant - Creating healthy eating and physical activity environments in the childcare setting. Self-evaluation of current policies and best practices using the Iowa “Setting the Stage” kit.

• 2002 School focused Team Nutrition Training Grant - assisted schools with forming teams to evaluate current policies and best practices using the USDA Changing the Scene kit.

Iowa Team Nutrition Overview

• 2003 Team Nutrition Training Grant - Built on previous three grants with the intent of encouraging more program participants (SP, CACFP, SFSP) to become involved in some aspect of the TN initiative. Continued mini-grants to support action for all program areas.

• 2004 Team Nutrition Training Grant – Focus on training teachers to utilize the Team Nutrition Curriculum. Expansion of mini-grant opportunities across all Child Nutrition Programs to include student initiated projects and TN mentoring.

Team Nutrition Event Calendar Kit

– Build on USDA Calendar of Events– Pick it up – begin planning– Most link to other national nutrition

and/or physical activity observances– Includes ties to TN messages and

Channels– Ideas for year long promotions – Sample Press Releases

Key Iowa Developed Resources

Related Outside Agency Linkages

• Iowa Department of Public Health - “Pick a better snack” joint campaign CDC Overweight and Obesity Prevention Planning Grant

• Iowa Nutrition Network – Food Stamp Nutrition Education Initiative

- matching grants • Iowa Fit Kids Coalition• Healthy Iowans 2010

PABS Campaign Overview

• Mission: make Iowans aware that they can increase children’s consumption of fruits & vegetables by offering healthy snacks.

• Objective: Increase consumption (double) of fruits and vegetables among Iowa children ages 2 through 12.

Iowa Implementation StructureCore Team

– Iowa State University - Extension– Iowa Department of Public Health– Midwest Dairy Council– Iowa Public Television– Iowa State University – Health and Human

Performance Department and Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management

– Iowa Partners for Healthy Kids – co-chairs Affiliated with National Action for Healthy Kids initiative

Making TN happen in Child NutritionPrograms – Schools, CACFP, SFSP

Across the Channels• Partnerships – involving the community,

creating and maintaining linkages outside the school

• State and Local Level Support – with the network from Extension and other Partners

Iowa Team Nutrition Programs

• Enroll – SP, CACFP, SFSP• Self Assessment• Identify Partners• Commit to action• Apply for mini-grant • Report what you’ve done• Recognition and Awards

Iowa Team Nutrition Programs

• Increased participation Partners – school teams, state level, within their settings

• Continued emphasis on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption

• Linking nutrition and physical activity• Expanded mini-grants – student

initiated projects, mentoring, traditional• TN Curriculum – IPTV K-12 Connections,

Teacher Training

Key USDA Resources

• Team Nutrition – “Getting it Started and Keeping it Going”

• Changing the Scene• “Getting Your Message Out” • Eat Smart.Play Hard Campaign• TN Curriculum• Community Action Kit• The Power Of Choice

Team Nutrition Resources

“Changing the Scene”Components of a Healthy

School Nutrition Environment

• A Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity

• Quality School Meals• Other Healthy Food Options• Pleasant Eating Experiences• Nutrition Education• Marketing

School District Wellness Policies

• A requirement of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004

• School Districts participating in the USDA Child Nutrition Programs must have Wellness Policy by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year

School Wellness Policy

Include goals for:

• Nutrition Education• Physical Activity and • Other School Based Activities

Include nutrition guidelines for all foodsavailable on campus during the school

day

Assure nutrition guidelines for schoolmeals are not less restrictive than federal policy

School Wellness Policy

The law requires establishment of a plan for measuring implementation of the local wellness policy

School Wellness Policy

The following groups must be involved in the development of the local policy:

• Parents• Students• School Food Service Professionals• School Board• School Administrators and

the public

Wellness Policy Development

• Training and Guidance• Begin with a Self-Assessment (such as Changing

the Scene, School Health Policy Index) school level• Study available resources and samples• Develop the Local Policy • Complete the process with appropriate action

plans at the school and district level to make the policy come alive

• Assess progress and implementation, update the action plan annually

Food for Thought – Be Active

• Are you working with your local school district?

• Now is the time to be part of the solution!

• Action at the school, community, and home levels is needed.

• Consistent messages and healthy environments will help to foster changes in behavior!

Contact Information:Janet Wendland, Team Nutrition Coordinator

515-281-5676 or Janet.Wendland@iowa.gov

Julia Thorius, Bureau Chief

515-281-5356 or Julia.Thorius@iowa.gov

Fax: 515-281-6548 or

Mail: Iowa Department of Education

Grimes State Office Building

400 East 14th Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

68

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

68

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.