April 2009 Wellness Newsletter

April 2009 News, Notes, & Wellness Ideas

IOWA TEAM Nutrition

 NEWS

Tuesday, August 4, there will be a meeting for all 16 schools that took part in the Local Wellness Policy Demonstration Project. The meeting will be held at the Iowa State University Scheman Center in Ames.  The Project Staff will give an overview of the data collection that has been done, and each school will present a 10-15 minute overview of what they have done with the Local Wellness Policy implementation. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear about the various strategies and approaches used by districts all around the state. Each district will be reimbursed mileage for 1 vehicle. There is no cost to attend. 

In visiting all schools in the Demonstration Project it was noted that some are waiting on the outcome of the Healthy Kids Act to make changes to nutrition standards and physical activity in their schools. The following is the latest information posted on the Department of Education’s website. The Department of Education’s School Leader Updatefor April provided the following information on the Healthy Kids Act General Information: In 2008 the Iowa Legislature passed legislation known as the Healthy Kids Act. While the Healthy Kids Act was not an initiative of the Iowa Department of Education (DE) or the State Board of Education, DE personnel worked with legislators to make the law more manageable for schools. In December 2008, the State Board of Education took the first step toward adoption of two sets of rules. The rules in chapter 58 set nutrition content standards; the rules in chapter 12 discuss the CPR and physical activity requirements.

A public hearing on the rules was held via Iowa Communications Network (ICN) on February 3. Several persons offered comment on the rules. The Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) of the Legislature discussed the rules at its meeting on February 6. The ARRC took no action to delay the rules. (The ARRC does not vote to approve rules. It only votes if it wishes to delay rulemaking.) The ARRC will hold a final hearing on the rules at its June meeting (exact date and time unknown).

The State Board is scheduled to adopt the rules at its April 30 meeting. The rules the State Board will be asked to adopt at the April 30th Board meeting will be posted to the Iowa Department of Education Website http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1667&Itemid=2474  

The DE will post frequently asked questions regarding the Healthy Kids Act at www.iowa.gov/educate  as soon as the State Board has acted on the rules.

FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS – Much progress has been made in the Demonstration Project Schools’ Food Service Department! During our visits we interviewed staff to see what changes have been implemented and found that most of the Demonstration districts have increased the frequency of serving fresh fruits and vegetables as well as using whole grain items almost exclusively when possible.  I would encourage all districts to look at applying for the 2009 Healthier US School Challenge to have these efforts recognized on a National level. Our Project Staff heard many good comments about the school food service area!

April is National Healthy Kids Day---let students know what you do to help them stay healthy!

Many schools have a Track and Field Day during May. Consider being a part of the planning team to help link the messages of healthy eating and being physically active for students.

NUTRITION-

Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Spinach from http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/

10 Always on the move? Tear spinach leaves, toss into a whole wheat pita with your favorite salad toppings. Add low fat dressing for a quick salad on the go.

9 Take cooked frozen spinach and mix into mashed potatoes. Top with parmesan cheese for a Popeye approved twist on an old favorite.

8 Try spinach in a stir-fry. Cook spinach, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and broccoli in a little olive oil on high heat for a delicious vegetable medley.

7 Sautee spinach with some garlic in olive oil for a great side dish to any meal.

6 Add chopped spinach to lasagna or soup.

5 Use spinach as a wrap. Place grilled chicken in a spinach leaf and dip into low fat ranch dressing.

4 Add sautéed spinach to your favorite pasta dish.

3 Add spinach, mushrooms, onions and low fat cheese to make a yummy filling for omelets and frittatas. Recipe: Egg Frittata w/ Spinach. 

2 Add to sandwiches and burgers instead of lettuce.

1 Use fresh spinach to make a salad. Toss in some strawberries, mandarin oranges,
or apple slices for an added kick.

 TIP: Wash spinach well before using as it tends to collect sand and dirt when grown.

FUN FACT: Spinach was brought to the United States by the Spaniards.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY-

Did you know that there are Physical Activity posters that are available online? They promote activity and can be found at http://www.idph.state.ia.us/pickabettersnack/social_marketing.asp

 Scroll down to the physical activity posters section—you will see other nutrition message posters that can also be downloaded.  The posters can be used in the hallways, cafeteria or Physical Education class area to show students (and staff) the many activities available to stay active!

RESOURCES/IDEAS-Fruits and Veggies-More Matters website has a link for kids! There are adult resources, too, at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/.

Check Out Their New Kids’ Website! FoodChamps.org

 Check out the Pick a better snack on-line toolkit!

http://www.idph.state.ia.us/pickabettersnack/

Within the toolkit are excellent resources for your nutrition education programming:

• Recipes
• Youth Bingo Cards
• Newsletters
• Fruit and Vegetable Graphics
• Poster and sign templates
• Fruit, vegetable and milk elementary lessons
• Much more!

STAFF WELLNESS- Harvard School of Public Health newsletter explains how to

Choose healthy fats, limit saturated fat, and avoid trans fat.

The total amount of fat you eat, whether high or low, isn't really linked with disease. What really matters is the type of fat you eat.

The "bad" fats—saturated and trans fats—increase the risk for certain diseases. The "good" fats—monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—lower disease risk. The key to a healthy diet is to substitute good fats for bad fats—and to avoid trans fats.

For 5 quick tips on choosing healthy fats go to:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/index.html

PARENT TIPS-

Do your children get the recommended amount of sleep? Eating a nutritious diet and regular exercise promote better sleep.  Here are a few other suggestions to improve sleep: reduce your adolescent’s intake of caffeinated sodas, teas, and energy drinks to two or fewer per day—also make caffeine off-limits after 5 pm. For younger children, keep naps under 60 minutes and avoid them after dinner to prevent sleep disruption.  

How many hours of sleep do we need?

                   2-18 months                    13-15 hours (including naps)

                   18 months-3 years           12-14 hours (including naps)

                   3-5 years                        11-13 hours (including naps)

                   5-12 years                      9-11 hours

                   Teenagers                       8.5-9.5 hours

                   Adults                             7-9 hours

Encourage an evening wind-down routine that includes time to read, a warm bath. Or quiet music. Keep bedrooms comfortable, cool, quiet, and dark. Drowsiness can cause inattentiveness and can interfere with concentration and short-term memory. Tired kids also tend to be moodier and may exhibit behavioral problems. (Taken from Wellmark BlueCross and BlueSheild of Iowa’s “Blue: Getting the Most from Your Health Plan, Winter 2008).

STUDENT SECTION –

Team Nutrition Go the Distance Day

Iowa's Team Nutrition program is supporting the message of increasing physical activity through its partnership with the Iowa Sports Foundation. The Go the Distance Day event on May 1st is designed to engage the entire school in at least 30 minutes of physical activity. Team Nutrition wants to encourage all schools to include healthy nutrition messages with their physical activity efforts. Team Nutrition will offer nine mini-grants of $500 each to schools that include a nutrition component in their Go The Distance Day activity. Funds may be used to purchase food samples, supplies, or educational materials that encourage eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Schools can find mini-grant information at: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=373&Itemid=1332 . You will also find the Team Nutrition enrollment forms if you are not already enrolled. The grant applications are due April 17th. If you have questions, please contact Patti Delger at patti.delger@iowa.gov. To learn more about Go the Distance Day or to register your school, go to: http://www.iowasportsfoundation.org/goTheDistanceDay/Default.aspx

 This newsletter is offered as part of the USDA Team Nutrition Demonstration and Training Grant.  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.