Posted February 19th, 2012
Ruthfood Blog by Ruth L. Chipps, MS, RD
Coming soon…new standards for school meals will mean adjustments in menu requirements for the first time in more than fifteen years and are designed to improve the health and nutrition for nearly 32 million children that participate in school meal programs. The changes are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, championed by the First Lady as part of her Let’s Move! Campaign and signed into law by President Obama.
Some of the key changes include:
· Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
· Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;
· Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;
· Limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size;
· Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.
Last Spring, I had the opportunity to present to a number of classes at St. Mary’s School in Caledonia, MN (photos above). They were a super audience and responded well to my healthy snack attack presentation. The kids even chanted with me during my snack attach wrap and roll song (see below). Here’s what I prepared for them:
WRAP & ROLL-Recipe: Spread peanut butter down the middle of a soft tortilla, sprinkle with trail mix and thin sliced apples, banana or other fruit. Fold it inward on each edge (WRAP) and ROLL the tortilla toward you, hiding the goodies inside! Mmmmunch and enjoy! Other wrap & roll options include veggie wrap ingredients – using hummus or light cream cheese, cottage cheese or other tasty options. Utilizing whole grain tortilla wraps helps meet the goal of increased fiber intake.
Snack Wrap Rap Song/Chant: American Snack Idol
*Percussion sound:
Make a snack wrap
with a tortilla flat
Healthy eating is where it’s at!
Peanut butter spread along one side
Sprinkle favorite fruits & nuts inside
Fold it inward on each edge
Roll it up and I will pledge
To make each snack a healthy one
Eating right is SUPER FUN!
Here’s a message I received from the program Coordinator: “Ruth took the time to meet with us and determine how her expertise could fit our needs. Her creativity in the development and presentation of healthy snacks was remarkable. She has the ability to keep children engaged and wanting to learn more.” -Jesie Melde, BS, CLS, Health Educator
Thanks Jesie and thank you to the students in Caledonia for making a commitment to healthy eating!
To your health,
Ruth
Tags: Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, Let's Move, School meals
Posted in food, Health, prevention, Recipes, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Healthy School Meals Get Moving!
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