School administrators have a keen interest in good nutrition. “There is a growing body of research that supports the link between healthy eating and improved school performance,” said Denise Corbett, Coordinator of the Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) Public School system’s School Health Initiative Program (SHIP).
National Nutrition Month Programing
During National Nutrition Month in March, the WJCC School System sponsored presentations by nationally acclaimed nutrition expert, Leslie Bonci, RD, MPH, LDN, CSSD, who is spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). She is the Nutritionist for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Toronto Blue Jays and many other professional athletic teams. “Leslie addressed 8th graders and high school athletes and athletic staff,” said Corbett. “Her presentations supported the 100% Fad Free theme of the ADA’s National Nutrition Month celebration.”
Bonci and the ADA aimed to debunk popular nutrition myths and promote fad-free eating habits by focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Diet fads come and go, they said, and some help you lose weight. But the fix is short term. The ADA says the most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100% Fad Free. The key to long-term success is to focus on overall health.
Childhood Obesity and Diabetes
“Obesity and diabetes are big issues,” said Jill Weisenberger, a Registered Dietitian from Yorktown, Virginia, who works with patients at the Hampton Roads Center for Clinical Research. She e-mails Tips of the Day and distributes food samples and recipes to patients who are participating in clinical trials of drugs slated for FDA approval. She works with all patients as though they are not taking any medication. “We need to know if the drugs are working better than diet and exercise alone. Many new drugs are coming out,” said Weisenberger, “but the drugs only make the patient’s hard work with diet and exercise a little bit easier.”
What is a Fad-Free Diet?
The ADA suggests that a 100% Fad Free lifestyle includes:
- Developing an eating plan for lifelong health. Get back to basics and use the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid as your guide to healthy eating.
- Choosing foods sensibly by looking at the big picture. A single food or meal won’t make or break a healthful diet. When consumed in moderation in appropriate portions, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.
- Learning how to spot a food fad. Unreasonable or exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss are key features of fad diets.
- Finding your balance between food and physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness plus it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Williamsburg-James City County Using Four Programs to Promote Year Round Health
Corbett said that four initiatives in the WJCC schools that are promoted for year round health include:
- Breakfast Go Power: Students and staff are encouraged to eat breakfast every day because research shows that students who eat breakfast have improved academic performance, decreased absenteeism and tardiness, are calmer and have more sustained energy for learning.
- 5 a Day the Tasty Way: Students and staff are encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables. The CDC lists increased fruit and vegetable consumption as one of the top five changes that a person can make to significantly improve quality and length of life. Students who eat more fruits and vegetables are better nourished than students who don’t, and research shows that better nourished students, when compared to undernourished students, have significantly higher math and reading scores, have longer attention spans, fatigue less easily and are less easily irritated.
- Smart Servings: More than one third of WJCC students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, based on their Body Mass Index (BM) scores. One of the major contributors to becoming overweight is “portion distortion.” Over the last 15 years, portion sizes for popular food items have almost doubled. When you compare the size of typical bagels, burgers, muffins, and sodas sold 15 years ago to what is sold now, it is easy to see why our nation has become more overweight. SHIP is using posters and programs to help students and staff recognize the difference between a healthy serving and a distorted portion.
- Think Your Drink: Students and staff are encouraged to drink more water and less soda and high-sugar drinks. Posters and displays around the schools promote this message.
“Since healthy eating habits are important for optimum performance in everything a person does, good nutrition is promoted by the schools every day of the year, not just during National Nutrition month,” concluded Corbett.
For more information, visit the American Dietetic Association Web site.
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