Health News
Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.
But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.
To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.
To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.
"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)
- 12 Ky. Schools Recognized For Efforts To Improve Student Health
A dozen Kentucky schools that participate in the Healthy Schools Program have been recognized for creating a culture of health and wellness in their classrooms. Ja'nel Johnson reports for WKMS, Murray State University's radio station. This is...
- Generals Say Obesity Is A National-security Issue, And The Main Medical Reason 73% Of Ky. Young Adults Can't Join The Service
"Obesity is the leading medical reason why 73 percent of our young adults cannot qualify for military service" in Kentucky, two former state adjutants general write in The Courier-Journal. They endorse the Obama administration's nutrition standards...
- Boone County School Bans All Food At School Birthday Celebrations, Partly In An Effort To Combat Childhood Obesity
Burlington Elementary School in Boone County has banned all food during birthday celebrations, including ice cream and cake, as part of its new wellness policy, Jessica Brown reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Celebrations are still allowed and can...
- Most Kentucky Schools Adapting Well To New Federal Nutrition Rules, Usda Official With Kentucky Background Says
While one Kentucky school district has ditched the federal school-meals program and the money that comes with it, an official of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services says that most Kentucky schools are creatively...
- 13 Kentucky Schools, 11 In Perry County, Receive Funds And Other Help To Get More Kids Eating Breakfast
Thirteen Kentucky schools will receive money and other help to get more children eating breakfast at school, an undertaking funded by Kellogg's cereal company and Action for Healthy Kids. The goal is to serve 1 million more breakfasts nationwide to...
Health News
Schools have big role to play in battling childhood obesity
Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.
But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.
To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.
To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.
"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)
- 12 Ky. Schools Recognized For Efforts To Improve Student Health
A dozen Kentucky schools that participate in the Healthy Schools Program have been recognized for creating a culture of health and wellness in their classrooms. Ja'nel Johnson reports for WKMS, Murray State University's radio station. This is...
- Generals Say Obesity Is A National-security Issue, And The Main Medical Reason 73% Of Ky. Young Adults Can't Join The Service
"Obesity is the leading medical reason why 73 percent of our young adults cannot qualify for military service" in Kentucky, two former state adjutants general write in The Courier-Journal. They endorse the Obama administration's nutrition standards...
- Boone County School Bans All Food At School Birthday Celebrations, Partly In An Effort To Combat Childhood Obesity
Burlington Elementary School in Boone County has banned all food during birthday celebrations, including ice cream and cake, as part of its new wellness policy, Jessica Brown reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Celebrations are still allowed and can...
- Most Kentucky Schools Adapting Well To New Federal Nutrition Rules, Usda Official With Kentucky Background Says
While one Kentucky school district has ditched the federal school-meals program and the money that comes with it, an official of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services says that most Kentucky schools are creatively...
- 13 Kentucky Schools, 11 In Perry County, Receive Funds And Other Help To Get More Kids Eating Breakfast
Thirteen Kentucky schools will receive money and other help to get more children eating breakfast at school, an undertaking funded by Kellogg's cereal company and Action for Healthy Kids. The goal is to serve 1 million more breakfasts nationwide to...