NR228 Nutrition
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Team Orange: Elementary School Regions: West and South
Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 228 Nutrition, Health and Wellness Kaitlyn Strong, Kimberly Still, Kimberly
Smith
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison”.
Ann Wigmore
In the information to follow, menus that are offered in elementary schools in the western and southern parts of the U.S. will be evaluated. Then the socioeconomic levels, geological area, and others barriers; such as level of income v.s nutritional standards will also be discussed.
Then, we will provide alternatives in the form of a menu that may work best for the elementary school children.
Questions for parents and caregivers...
Do you know what your children are eating when you are not around?
What kind of food is being offered to them for school lunch?
Do they have access to vending machines rich with high fructose corn syrup and caffeinated beverages?
Nutritional requirements Ages 6- 12years
For ages 6-12 here is the breakdown for AMDR: Fat intake 30% kcal intake
Carbohydrates: 45%-65%
Calcium, ages 7-12: 1300mg-day
Protein: 5-20% for young children, 10-30% for older children, as high as 46 g depending on sexual maturity
Added sugar: less than 25%
Fiber: 25 g/day for 4-8 years, 31 g/days boys 9-13 years, 26g/gay for girls 9-13
(Grodner,2012)
USDA Nutritional Standards
Weekly: Calories 600-650
Sat. Fat <10%
Trans Fat 0%
Elementary school menus
West Medford, Oregon
South Huntsville, Alabama
Medford, Oregon
Breaking down this week Breakfast: consisted of a cinnamon round, egg and
cheese muffin or a bagel.
Lunch: some common things were vegan cheese pizza or nachos, each day had a sandwich option (turkey or ham with cheese, PB&J, American sub or egg salad), then every Friday was brunch for lunch.
Huntsville, Alabama
Weekly Breakdown: Breakfast: smoked sausages, sliced peaches or
baked apples,
Lunch: grilled chicken sandwiches, romaine salads, and bakes fries (white or sweet).
For every day there is a protein, 1-2 vegetables, a fruit, a grain and then either milk or juice.
Analysis
After looking over the meals for these particular schools, these foods are appropriate for this age group.
Both schools seem to be striving to have healthy choices available. For example: Brown rice over white, baked over fried (even though fried foods are big in the south).
While Oregon is going for a more vegan diet, Alabama brings in vegetables that are naturally grown in their state
Sample Menus
Breakfast: Oatmeal, bagels, yogurt
Lunch: Salad bar
Grilled chicken quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla, with a side of sour cream, guacamole and Pico de gallo
A fruit option
Milk of juice (ADPH,2015)
(Fruitsandveggies,2015)
Challenges and Barriers
Lack of support from the administration, parents and students
Funding Lack of knowledge about nutrition Complaints from students- Are they actually eating
these foods? Children's allergies Culture
Nutritional Benefits for Elementary school
Milk was offered daily
Increased fruit servings
More variety of vegetables
Grains are whole wheat grains
Baked foods over fried
Protein choices daily
Food for thought: Are some school lunches better for you than others in other areas of the world?
To sum it up!
Both schools were at least attempting to provide adequate and healthy options with the resources they had.
There is always room for improvement when it comes to the eating habits of today’s youth.
It is best to keep family and faculty involved in the choices for students of all ages.
References School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. (2011). Morbidity and Morality Weekly
Report, 60(5), 7-7. Retrieved May 12, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6005.pdf
A. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http://www.adph.org/administration/Default.asp?id=464#N
Grodner, M., & Roth, S. (2012). Nutritional foundations and clinical applications: A nursing approach (5th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier.
Home - Fruits & Veggies More Matters. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http:// www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http:// www.spotlightonpoverty.org/map-detail.aspx?state=Alabama
Action For Healthy Kids. School Meals: Challenges and Opportunities (n.d.). Retrieved on May 25, 2015 from http ://www.actionforhealthykids.org/storage/documents/parent-toolkit/parent-leadership-series/schoolmealsvfinalx2.p df
United States Department of Agriculture. Eating Better at School: Can New Policies Improve Children’s Food Choices? (September 3, 2013). Retrieved on May 25, 2015 from http ://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2013-september/eating-better-at-school-can-new-policies-improve-children %E2%80%99s-food-choices.aspx#. VWzADs_BzGd
United States Department of Agriculture. School Meals (March 3, 2014). Retrieved on May 25, 2015 from http:// www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/healthy-hunger-free-kids-act
