Tag: health literacy

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Revving the Nutritious Lunch Engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSOnFWdnkK0

It takes some serious guts and passion to set up healthy shop on site of a former McDonald’s. Kristin Richmond and Kirsten Tobey, two fearless moms, launched Revolution Foods in Oakland, California. Their motto “Real Food for All” encompasses the vision of kids eating school lunches made with real, natural, healthy ingredients. Anything artificial is not invited to this California revolution that has over one thousand schools on board. Revolution Foods’ philosophy favors growth spurts over growth hormones, and chefs in chef coats versus chefs in lab coats. It’s really that simple. One lunch at a time, Revolution Foods is transforming old-school cafeteria food into affordable, freshly prepared, delicious meals. Our children are the future of our nation. It’s time to start feeding them like we mean it. Goodbye sugary juice and oily potato chips, hello brown rice and vegetables. At Healthy Teens, we prefer our future generation’s leaders to be nourished with the best quality foods so they can make sound decisions and be successful. Would you trust a future president whoScreen Shot 2015-04-07 at 9.05.05 AM has been clouded by saturated fat and monosodium glutamate? Check out the sample menus that feature a mouth-watering Buffalo Chicken Sandwich accompanied by baby carrots, honey roasted soy nuts, and fruit. Mmmmm!

The truth is that students were pleasantly rebellious toward the switch from their favorite foods. However, the Revolution’s team flooded the uncertainty with the flip side of the story. They spoke to school administrators, staff, and students about the positive benefits of nutrition, and slowly but surely, the tide shifted- students not only accepted the changes, but celebrated and thrived off them. Not to mention, the recipes are kid-inspired.

This revolution is contagious. Twelve states to date are involved in this movement, and 200,000 nutritious meals are served daily, with 80% going to low-income students. What’s more? They also offers classroom nutrition education and hands-on activities to spark their interest in healthy eating. Now, meal jet packs are available to purchase in your own home, including Whole Foods California and Fresh Direct. Bravo to these two women looking out for their fellow moms and kids! Revolution Foods is inspiring proof that applied knowledge leads to the empowerment of our youth. They are also role models for entrepreneurs out there who are looking to make a real change with their skills.

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Harvard Discovers a New Planet

Researchers at Harvard University collaborated with teachers and principals of public middle schools to create an incredible interdisciplinary curriculum. Planet Health was developed with the vision to improve cardiovascular health and to lower obesity rates in adolescents of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The message behind the theory is simple- nutritious eating and exercise improve the overall state of health, and thus contributes to a better quality of life. This humble idea seems commonplace, however, obesity rates among adolescents continues to rise. It’s not so much the message that Planet Health promotes, but the means of delivery that shines so brightly. Interdisciplinary learning has become quite trendy, and based on its success, it will not go out of style anytime soon. Planet Health’s curriculum intermingles beautifully with language arts, math, science, social studies, and physical education, and at Healthy Teens, interdisciplinary curricula is always knuckle bump worthy.

Planet Health’s objectives don’t stop at vegetables and cycling; the push to decrease television watching among adolescents is at the forefront of their motives. Why? Because most people watch TV with their glutes glued to the couch, thus encouraging the act of being sedentary. Furthermore, the plethora of commercials showing deep-dish pizza slices dripping with glistening cheese (in slow-motion nonetheless), appeal to the devil on our left shoulders.

The CDC is an advocate for Planet Health based on some recent studies. One study showed that girls who participate in Planet Health were less likely to engage in eating disorder behaviors. Boston Public Schools partnered with Planet Health, and even ran a test curriculum to see if it could still offer success in six inner-city middle schools with limited resources. The CDC funded the research, and found that 90% of teachers found the program effective among their students. Massachusetts is only one of forty-eight states that have purchased the Planet Health curriculum.

So what does this curriculum entail? The second edition, which can be purchased with the click of a finger, includes up-to-date nutrition and physical activity information. It also comes with a CD-ROM that provides worksheets and many other ready-to-use resources. Thirty-five lesson plans are at your fingertips, as well as a FitCheck self-assessment tool so students can track their activity levels. The website offers resources to help teachers connect with parents on this mission for improving the health of their children, including newsletter samples and interactive fact sheets.

At Healthy Teens, we believe in the power of interdisciplinary curricula, especially when pairing with the subject we have no choice but to engage in for a lifetime- health. We have spread word to our fellow teachers, administrators, and parents about this program that simply makes sense, and is easy to implement. We just ordered our copy of Planet Health, and we encourage you to do the same!