PK-12 Education Nutrition Programs Team Nutrition | Team Nutrition |
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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the Team Nutrition program in 1995 in order to improve school meals, enhance nutrition education and involve families and communities in supporting healthy eating and physical activity. The multi-faceted Team Nutrition program was a response to 1993 USDA study that showed school meals across the country were not close to meeting the Dietary Guidelines. The Team Nutrition initiative includes training and technical assistance to Child Nutrition food service professionals to assist them to serve meals that look good, taste good and are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines. Additionally, USDA developed an integrated model of education and community involvement designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Team Nutrition educational and marketing materials were developed to assist schools to implement the program through six communication channels. They are:
The United States Department of Agriculture has supported state and local Team Nutrition efforts through series of Healthy School Meals Training Grants. Iowa received one of those two-year grants in 1997. This grant allowed the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) to support Team Nutrition programs in 25 school districts across the state as well as to develop the Pick a Better Snack social marketing campaign that promotes the consumption of fruits and vegetables as snacks. Currently, IDOE is implementing two additional Team Nutrition grants - a three year demonstration grant and a two year training grant geared to pre-kindergarten childcare and day care settings. Demonstration GrantThe Iowa Team Nutrition Demonstration Grant is only one of four awarded to states in 1999. The other three grantees are Kansas, Michigan and Idaho. The four demonstration states are working together to: refine the Team Nutrition model, especially the physical activity component; develop a manual and technical assistance guide to assist other states to implement Team Nutrition; develop a national Team Nutrition routine reporting system to allow USDA to assess how Team Nutrition is being implemented across the country. Each of the four states was charged with selecting a number of schools to implement Team Nutrition and to follow the development of Team Nutrition in those schools, documenting the steps, time and resources required. The IDOE selected the following 10 demonstration schools:
Anson Elementary School, Marshalltown The Demonstration Schools are receiving cash grants, support and technical assistance. They are implementing the Team Nutrition program during the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 school years and assisting the IDOE with data collection requirements. Training grant geared to pre-kindergarten child care and day care settingsThe IDOE received a two-year Team Nutrition training grant in the fall of 2000. Team Nutrition has focused on school aged children. The purpose of the grant is to provide training and resources to individuals who care for children in the preschool and day care settings. A goal of the grant is to create a cadre of 150 trainers, including representatives Child Care Resource and Referral, Head Start, Child and Adult Care Food Program Home Sponsors, Iowa State University Extension, Area Education Agencies, and schools. The cadre of 150 trainers will in turn offer a minimum of two workshops to staff or parents in their geographic area. Resources will be designed to provide information on nutrition and physical activity to staff and parents in an easy to use format that will encourage active participation. Publications and Reports Team Nutrition Program Enrollment Form Team Nutrition School Enrollment Form
Mini-grant Forms & ExamplesA Team Nutrition enrollment for your school needs to be on file in order to apply for a Team Nutrition mini-grant. You can submit an enrollment form at the same time as the mini-grant application to be sure our files have your updated contact information. Team Nutrition programs have the opportunity to apply for mini-grants. Specific amounts and deadlines for applications vary by program. Each program has a specific form and example to show how the form should be completed. Guidance on Acceptable Team Nutrition Expenditures
Join the Team is information for programs about Team Nutrition. There are several links to the enrollment form, mini-grant documents, and the Eat Smart/Play Hard Awards available to Team Nutrition programs. Students' Eat Smart Play Hard™ Students taking Action to foster healthier nutrition and physical activity habits and environments in their schools and communities is the focus of this portion of the website. This area is in its early stages of development, so be sure to check back periodically for additional information that will be posted. Mini-Grants Students and student organizations may apply through the Department of Education for USDA funded mini-grants up to $500 to promote nutrition and physical activity messages and foster related environmental change within their school community. The links below contain a sample mini-grant and an application form. School faculty approval is required and the School building must be enrolled in Team Nutrition. To be eligible for mini-grant funding applications must include a nutrition related component and may also include an optional physical activity component. HealthierUS School Challenge 2008 USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recognizes schools that take a leadership role in helping students learn to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices through the HealthierUS School Challenge. The updated 2008 required criteria for this 2 year award, is effective September 1, 2008. Old criteria (2004) will be accepted through December 31, 2008 for those schools already in process. Applications must be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education for review and then are forwarded on to USDA by the State. Below are resources to assist schools with moving towards the recommended school meal HealthierUS School Challenge award. Applications and all materials are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/HealthierUS/index.html .
2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Fact Sheets Fact Sheets For Healthier School Meals Developed by USDA for school foodservice professionals, these Fact Sheets offer strategies for purchasing, preparing, and serving meals consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These resources can also be found at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov . • “Use Low-fat Milk, Cheese and Yogurt ” • “Jazz Up Your Menu With Fruits ” • "Trim Trans Fat " • "Meeting the Challenge of Rising Food Costs for Healthier School Meals " • "Vary Your Vegetables " • Be Salt Savvy – Cut Back on Sodium • Limit Saturated Fat and Cholesterol • Serve More Dry Beans and Peas Student Led Activity Ideas The links below provide a variety of ideas that students and others interested in fostering healthier nutrition and physical activity habits and promoting overall wellness might want to consider as ideas for use in their local schools. The ideas listed below were developed as part of a graduate student assignment at Iowa State University, by Christine Clarahan and Erin Tiffany.
Be a student leader – be a role model - Eat Smart. Play Hard. ™
Team Nutrition Links
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