Putting health on school menus

The back packs are out, the pencils are sharpened, and the homework is starting to come in. Yes, it’s that time of the year again: we’re back to school. As students returned to school this year, they are acclimating to the second year of big changes on cafeteria menus across the nation. Last year, the federal government rolled out the biggest reforms to the National School Lunch Program’s nutrition standards in 15 years. It came with a mixed bag of reactions. Some balked, others cheered and still others think they don’t go far enough. With about a third of children in the U.S. either overweight or obese, at Novato Unified School District, we think these changes couldn’t have come sooner.

The new standards mandated more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less fat and salt. Because we recognize that in addition to giving kids the energy they need to excel at their studies, we’re setting the kids in our care on the path for how they’re going to eat for the rest of their lives; what we serve in the cafeterias – and what we don’t serve - has been a priority for Novato Unified School District for more than a decade.

The soda machines are long gone. Following the largest beef recall in history at the Westland Hallmark Slaughter Plant in 2008, we eliminated all beef products from the school’s menus. We collaborate with a local organization, Marin Organic, to promote a farm-to-school program. The program brings local fresh produce into the schools. We’ve introduced a gleaning program which allows families to visit local organic farms and harvest produce that is then donated to schools or community kitchens. And we have also been practicing Meatless Monday for three years now, taking our commitment to healthy eating one step further by going meat-free one day a week.

Why go meat-free on Mondays? In recent decades our meat consumption has increased dramatically—and along with it, our waistlines, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Meat is high in saturated fat, which has been associated with obesity and preventable chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and stroke.  Going meat-free one day each week may reduce saturated fat intake and thus lower the risk of these chronic diseases. Sadly, even our children are at risk, with kids as young as five showing signs of plaque build-up in their arteries. Schools should be a part of the solution and not the problem.

At Novato USD  we’re also concerned about our impact on the world around us and trying to be more environmentally sustainable. Many leading environmental organizations support Meatless Monday saying that reducing meat consumption is one of the best ways we can lighten our carbon footprint and do our part to conserve  natural resources.   One pound of beef alone requires approximately 1,799 gallons of water to produce. 

Learning does not end when students come into the cafeteria. For too long, schools haven’t done as good a job as we could’ve when it comes to child nutrition. We owe it to our kids to  guide  them in the healthiest direction possible. Whether it’s by introducing students to new fruits and vegetables, teaching them about healthy foods through programs like Farm to School,  or showing that we can maintain a healthy weight and explore new nutritious, delicious foods by trying Meatless Monday.  

We hope parents will help by participating in Meatless Monday at home and encouraging youngsters to participate in the school lunch program to try the new menu options.

Miguel Villarreal is the Director Nutrition for Novato Unified School District