School Nutrition Foundation And The U. S. Potato Board Award Wellness Grants To Ten Elementary Schools

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 12 Jun 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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This fall, schools from Nebraska to Florida will be launching interactive cooking shows and community nutrition demonstrations, hosting health fairs, writing student cookbooks and debuting baked potato bars all to help kids go from "couch potato" to "cool potato!" The collaborations come as school nutrition programs continue to implement local school wellness policies, working with diverse partners to effectively encourage healthy eating choices for children in schools. Today, ten schools from across the country were provided with financial grants through the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) to assist in implementing local school wellness policies. Many of the grant applicants focused on the unique role that potatoes can play in nutritious school meals and throughout the school food environment.

As part of a comprehensive effort to promote healthy childhood weight in all communities, ten $2500 grants will be awarded to public elementary schools. Grant funds are to be spent during the 2008-2009 school year for improvements such as incorporating new foodservice equipment for the healthful preparation of foods, purchasing physical activity equipment and developing or executing nutrition or physical activity educational programs. Additionally, 250,000 take-home nutrition education brochures were distributed to parents focusing on the nutritional value of foods such as potatoes as well as healthy recipes. More than 333 applications were received and reviewed before determining the ten wining finalists:

- Florida - Treasure Coast Elementary
- Indiana -Thompson Elementary
- Maine - Cascade Brook School
- Massachusetts - Bessie Buker Elementary School
- Mississippi - Greenlee Elementary School
- Nebraska - Anselmo-Merna
- North Dakota - Taylor-Richardton Elementary
- Vermont - Vergennes Union Elementary School
- Washington - Robert Gray Elementary School
- Wisconsin - Waupaca Learning Center

Among the finalists, Bessie Buker Elementary School, in Wenham, Mass., will celebrate the United Nations' International Year of the Potato by kicking off each day with a school-wide cardio workout to the music of the Wiggle's "Hot Potato" song and to "Do the Mashed Potato" by Martha and the Vandellas. Newly developed curriculum will incorporate important aspects of the potato in history, science, visual arts and physical education and health classes. Anselmo-Merna Elementary in Merna, Maine, plans to institute an interactive television-style cooking show with students demonstrating the ways potatoes and their different varieties can be prepared. The activity is aimed at increasing their awareness about the food choices we all make. The whole community will be involved by bringing in guest hosts and chefs and hosting Family Reading Nights, including a mashed potato bar.

All the activities complement local school wellness policies. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required that all school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program approve a local wellness policy by the start of the 2006-2007 school year. The law mandated that these policies include goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities as well as nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available in schools. SNA research has shown that of the 97% of school districts that addressed nutrition standards for National School Lunch Program meals in their wellness policies, more than 92% have completed implementation.

About the School Nutrition Foundation

The School Nutrition Foundation, established in 1964, is a non-profit corporation that provides high-quality professional development, financial aid and research programs to child nutrition professionals and members of the School Nutrition Association (SNA.) The Foundation's commitment to the child nutrition community is integral to implementing positive change in school meals and, ultimately, to the health of school children. SNA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals.

About the United States Potato Board

The United States Potato Board was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Recognized as an innovator in the producer marketing industry, the USPB was one of the first commodity groups to develop and use a nutrition label that was approved by the FDA. Based in Denver, CO, the USPB represents more than 4,000 potato growers and handlers across the country.

United States Potato Board