By

Merry Stevens,   San Jose Elementary School

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Access to Healthy Foods

We are trying to make our students aware of healthy snack foods. We have purchased posters to display throughout the school. The information we are presenting shows the nutritional value of traditional sweet snacks versus healthy snack choices. We have talked with our cafeteria manager and requested healthy items to be purchased a la carte at breakfast and lunch. During staff meetings, healthy snacks are offered. Through our PTA, we have the cafeteria staff to offer healthy foods at events. We encourage our students to keep a record of what they eat to see if they are choosing healthy snacks.

How did you accomplish your goals?

We purchased posters with nutritional snack information and placed them around the school. We used the school news, newsletter, PE class time, and the school website to promote healthy snacks. We had students keep a record of their snacks to investigate whether they were making healthy snack choices.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

It is hard to change habits. We will continue to inform our administration and staff of the importance of healthy snacks. Finances are always an issue when urging the school to purchase a healthier food, even if it costs a little more. We will keep stressing to the cafeteria, administration, PTA, and staff the benefits of healthy snacks.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge is getting parents to agree to healthy snacks. Children are not shopping for snacks. So we find that we must educate and persuade the parents to strive to supply healthy snacks for their children.