Dallas School Gets an ‘A’ for Promoting 3E’s
I was happy to learn recently that one Texas school is going the extra mile in embracing the 3E’s of Healthy Living - Exercise, Education and Eating Right.
The team at A+ Academy Charter School in south Dallas is delivering this message straight to their students. This picture of the cafeteria bulletin board is a good example of the commitment of Cafeteria Manager Doreen Gisler and Child Nutrition Director Judy Jones to helping improve the health of the 1,092 students at the school.
It’s great to see nutrition professionals going out of their way to teach Texas children the value of living a healthy lifestyle. I urge all parents, teachers, coaches and other role models to adopt a similar enthusiasm for the health of our next generation.
Going to Bat for Childhood Nutrition
In keeping with the spirit of the World Series, teams of Texas child nutrition professionals recently went to bat on behalf of nutrition and wellness.
Taking the field Oct. 23 in the Mount Pleasant area of East Texas, the Lunch Bunch Fall Softball Tournament of Champions covered all the bases of good fun and friendly competition. In the end, the Pittsburg ISD Peaches beat the Mt. Pleasant ISD Café’ Divas and the Hughes Springs ISD Chili Peppers to take the championship title.
The tournament was such a hit, the nutrition pros have agreed to continue their exercise efforts and play at least one tournament every fall and spring.
Let's applaud these teams for stepping up to the plate on game day and every day to promote the 3E’s of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right!
Texas School District Finds a New Way to Get Students Excited About School Meals
Guest Blogger: Lindsay Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Food and Nutrition Division
Finding ways to help kids eat right is an ongoing challenge, which is why one Texas child nutrition professional is going straight to the source.
In an effort to find healthy foods that will appeal to junior high school students, Jefferson Independent School District Child Nutrition Director Terry Moore assembles a weekly taste-testing panel made up of students to sample new products and recipes at Jefferson Junior High School. Moore's initiative has generated so much excitement and enthusiasm that students consider it an honor to be randomly selected for the taste-test panel. Following each session, Moore is joined by the students for an outdoor walk to discuss the importance of healthy eating.
Additionally, Moore says she often posts pictures and new food product signs around her office door to encourage students to visit and talk about school meals. The conversation almost always leads to questions about the next taste-test panel.
I commend Moore and Jefferson I.S.D. for finding an way to get students excited about eating school meals. Her efforts are a welcome complement to TDA's 3E's of Healthy Living -- Education, Exercise and Eating Right. With additional help from parents and communities, we can partner together to overcome the challenge of helping kids eat healthy and do our part to help address childhood obesity.
Nutrition Education Outreach Grants Awarded
As childhood obesity becomes a growing public health concern, the need for better health and nutrition education has never been greater. I'm proud to say that need is being better served following TDA's announcement today that $414,000 has been awarded to 112 Texas school campuses and community organizations. The grants will fund better health and nutrition education and outreach as TDA continues to partner with schools and other organizations to promote the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right.
To see the complete list of grant recipients, go here.
To read the press release announcing this exciting news, go here.
TDA will accept another round of applications for the Nutrition Outreach Program this fall. To learn more about the Nutrition Outreach Program, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov. You can also contact the Grants office at (512) 475-1615 or email Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov for more information.
Conference to Help Enhance School Meals and Child Nutrition
In an ongoing effort to promote healthy eating habits to Texas schoolchildren, the Texas Department of Agriculture hosted a booth at the School Nutrition Association's annual national conference in Dallas, July 11-14. School nutrition professionals from across the nation attended to share ideas and best practices for improving child nutrition, while also learning about new foods available to school districts and students, grades K-12.
White House chef Sam Kass made a special appearance and presented a healthy cooking demonstration.
Overall, the conference was a great educational experience and served to promote the 3E's of Healthy Living -- Education, Exercise and Eating Right!
Granbury ISD - Granbury, TX
"Shimbermetimbers! This food is good" will be the new slogan for the Granbury ISD school breakfast program.
Jamie Bebbe, a first-grader at Acton Elementary School, submitted the winning entry in a slogan contest held during National School Breakfast Week earlier this year. The drawing will be featured on the elementary menu calendar this coming fall. She also received a portable Playstation donated by sponsor, General Mills.
By hosting this contest, Granbury ISD has exemplified how to engage students to participate in their school meal program, which follows strict nutritional guidelines as set forth in the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy and provides its students nutritious meals.
At the Texas Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Todd Staples has created an initiative called the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right. Under this initiative, we developed "Texans Bring It!" This call to action asks students of all ages, "What do you bring to your life to be healthy?" It's safe to say Jamie Bebbe has got the right answer!
Atkins Middle School - Lubbock, TX
It was so cold outside, the tour moved inside to the school's gym!
The Nutrition Bus stayed outside, but the portions and food models got the kids' attention anyway!
Atkins Middle School's banner and artwork.
Here are what Texas students and young people bring.
Alamo Middle School - Pharr, TX
The school's marquee was an exciting welcome for the tour crew.
Alamo Middle School created an exciting press event and kick-off complete with drumline and cheerleaders.
Each area of the tour exhibit focused on one of the 3E's of Healthy Living. Exercise and the character, DJ Appleonean, were featured at the DJ booth. Information on school meals, healthy snacks and MyPyramid was handed out.
Paige from the Beet Crew of MyPyramid Café.
Sam Rayburn Middle School – San Antonio, TX
Students and teachers gathered in a staging area to learn about the “Texans Bring It!” campaign and the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right.
Students then viewed the 30-second, digital animation, MyPyramid Café public service announcement and exciting behind the scenes footage.
Students walked the red carpet and had their photos taken.
Standing in line for the Nutrition Bus.
Texas Department of Agriculture Nutrition Specialist Paige Abernathy hosted the Nutrition Bus demo. Students learned about portion sizes and discussed fat content in foods. The fat and muscle models were a big hit for the kids!
Students co-create modern art with a healthy twist by answering the questions: What healthy foods do you currently see and what would you like to see in your school cafeteria?
Students jumping up for a Frisbee prize after playing the Pyramid Spin game.
The game incorporated learning about healthy food choices based on USDA’s MyPyramid. (http://www.mypyramid.gov)
Principal McKenzie and students hold up their school’s “What do you bring?” banner.
Students wrote how the 3E’s of Healthy Living were a part of their daily lives. Answers ranged from skateboarding, soccer, gymnastics and dance, to fruits and veggies, and grains. Some attached their snapshots taken at the red carpet photo area.
Each school on the tour will hang its banner in its cafeteria as a reminder of what the students bring to their lives, schools and communities.
Kick Off & Press Event - Medrano Middle School - Dallas, TX
Francisco Medrano Middle School, Dallas, TX
Nov 9, 2009
Students greeted Texas Department of Agriculture and Commissioner Todd Staples with their own banners stating, “Medrano Eagles Can Bring It!”
The red carpet.
Commissioner Staples and students red carpet photo.
Sneak Peek!
Texas Department of Agriculture, Austin TX
Nov 4, 2009
Today we are in Austin, TX at the TDA offices setting up the footprint in a parking lot to allow the office staff to see the whole setup and add their two cents.
We have 10 parking spaces cleared for the setup and we will be doing a full run-through for the big event in Dallas next week, before continuing onto middle school campuses all around TX.
Should be a great day. Upper seventies, sunshine, and lots of interest from passers by. Stay tuned for current setup pics and layout plans of the walk through.
Univision Family Health Fair
George R Brown Convention Center
Nov. 1, 2009 : Noon-4pm
Our first Bring It! Tour stop was a smash success! We must've had close to 500 kids come through the Tour! For almost 2 hours I couldn't even get away from the Pyramid Spins station for a drink of water. I know that Ben, the Red Carpet Photo Tour Guide, shot so much Polaroid film that we had to order more for the next stop!
Can I just say that the Nutrition Bus was a huge hit and the fake muscle and fat models that Tour Guide Paige had as a demonstration were the stars? I mean really! AND, my favorite part was the holiday lights strung on the inside of the bus! Very VIP.
Here's what some of the kids wrote in answering the question on the Bring It wall, "what do you bring?"
More later... I just can't believe we are finally launching Texans Bring It! YAY!!!
I was happy to learn recently that one Texas school is going the extra mile in embracing the 3E’s of Healthy Living - Exercise, Education and Eating Right.
The team at A+ Academy Charter School in south Dallas is delivering this message straight to their students. This picture of the cafeteria bulletin board is a good example of the commitment of Cafeteria Manager Doreen Gisler and Child Nutrition Director Judy Jones to helping improve the health of the 1,092 students at the school.
It’s great to see nutrition professionals going out of their way to teach Texas children the value of living a healthy lifestyle. I urge all parents, teachers, coaches and other role models to adopt a similar enthusiasm for the health of our next generation.
Going to Bat for Childhood Nutrition
In keeping with the spirit of the World Series, teams of Texas child nutrition professionals recently went to bat on behalf of nutrition and wellness.
Taking the field Oct. 23 in the Mount Pleasant area of East Texas, the Lunch Bunch Fall Softball Tournament of Champions covered all the bases of good fun and friendly competition. In the end, the Pittsburg ISD Peaches beat the Mt. Pleasant ISD Café’ Divas and the Hughes Springs ISD Chili Peppers to take the championship title.
The tournament was such a hit, the nutrition pros have agreed to continue their exercise efforts and play at least one tournament every fall and spring.
Let's applaud these teams for stepping up to the plate on game day and every day to promote the 3E’s of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right!
Texas School District Finds a New Way to Get Students Excited About School Meals
Guest Blogger: Lindsay Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Food and Nutrition Division
Finding ways to help kids eat right is an ongoing challenge, which is why one Texas child nutrition professional is going straight to the source.
In an effort to find healthy foods that will appeal to junior high school students, Jefferson Independent School District Child Nutrition Director Terry Moore assembles a weekly taste-testing panel made up of students to sample new products and recipes at Jefferson Junior High School. Moore's initiative has generated so much excitement and enthusiasm that students consider it an honor to be randomly selected for the taste-test panel. Following each session, Moore is joined by the students for an outdoor walk to discuss the importance of healthy eating.
Additionally, Moore says she often posts pictures and new food product signs around her office door to encourage students to visit and talk about school meals. The conversation almost always leads to questions about the next taste-test panel.
I commend Moore and Jefferson I.S.D. for finding an way to get students excited about eating school meals. Her efforts are a welcome complement to TDA's 3E's of Healthy Living -- Education, Exercise and Eating Right. With additional help from parents and communities, we can partner together to overcome the challenge of helping kids eat healthy and do our part to help address childhood obesity.
Nutrition Education Outreach Grants Awarded
As childhood obesity becomes a growing public health concern, the need for better health and nutrition education has never been greater. I'm proud to say that need is being better served following TDA's announcement today that $414,000 has been awarded to 112 Texas school campuses and community organizations. The grants will fund better health and nutrition education and outreach as TDA continues to partner with schools and other organizations to promote the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right.
To see the complete list of grant recipients, go here.
To read the press release announcing this exciting news, go here.
TDA will accept another round of applications for the Nutrition Outreach Program this fall. To learn more about the Nutrition Outreach Program, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov. You can also contact the Grants office at (512) 475-1615 or email Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov for more information.
Conference to Help Enhance School Meals and Child Nutrition
In an ongoing effort to promote healthy eating habits to Texas schoolchildren, the Texas Department of Agriculture hosted a booth at the School Nutrition Association's annual national conference in Dallas, July 11-14. School nutrition professionals from across the nation attended to share ideas and best practices for improving child nutrition, while also learning about new foods available to school districts and students, grades K-12.
White House chef Sam Kass made a special appearance and presented a healthy cooking demonstration.
Overall, the conference was a great educational experience and served to promote the 3E's of Healthy Living -- Education, Exercise and Eating Right!
Granbury ISD - Granbury, TX
"Shimbermetimbers! This food is good" will be the new slogan for the Granbury ISD school breakfast program.
Jamie Bebbe, a first-grader at Acton Elementary School, submitted the winning entry in a slogan contest held during National School Breakfast Week earlier this year. The drawing will be featured on the elementary menu calendar this coming fall. She also received a portable Playstation donated by sponsor, General Mills.
By hosting this contest, Granbury ISD has exemplified how to engage students to participate in their school meal program, which follows strict nutritional guidelines as set forth in the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy and provides its students nutritious meals.
At the Texas Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Todd Staples has created an initiative called the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right. Under this initiative, we developed "Texans Bring It!" This call to action asks students of all ages, "What do you bring to your life to be healthy?" It's safe to say Jamie Bebbe has got the right answer!
Atkins Middle School - Lubbock, TX
It was so cold outside, the tour moved inside to the school's gym!
The Nutrition Bus stayed outside, but the portions and food models got the kids' attention anyway!
Atkins Middle School's banner and artwork.
Here are what Texas students and young people bring.
Alamo Middle School - Pharr, TX
The school's marquee was an exciting welcome for the tour crew.
Alamo Middle School created an exciting press event and kick-off complete with drumline and cheerleaders.
Each area of the tour exhibit focused on one of the 3E's of Healthy Living. Exercise and the character, DJ Appleonean, were featured at the DJ booth. Information on school meals, healthy snacks and MyPyramid was handed out.
Paige from the Beet Crew of MyPyramid Café.
Sam Rayburn Middle School – San Antonio, TX
Students and teachers gathered in a staging area to learn about the “Texans Bring It!” campaign and the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right.
Students then viewed the 30-second, digital animation, MyPyramid Café public service announcement and exciting behind the scenes footage.
Students walked the red carpet and had their photos taken.
Standing in line for the Nutrition Bus.
Texas Department of Agriculture Nutrition Specialist Paige Abernathy hosted the Nutrition Bus demo. Students learned about portion sizes and discussed fat content in foods. The fat and muscle models were a big hit for the kids!
Students co-create modern art with a healthy twist by answering the questions: What healthy foods do you currently see and what would you like to see in your school cafeteria?
Students jumping up for a Frisbee prize after playing the Pyramid Spin game.
The game incorporated learning about healthy food choices based on USDA’s MyPyramid. (http://www.mypyramid.gov)
Principal McKenzie and students hold up their school’s “What do you bring?” banner.
Students wrote how the 3E’s of Healthy Living were a part of their daily lives. Answers ranged from skateboarding, soccer, gymnastics and dance, to fruits and veggies, and grains. Some attached their snapshots taken at the red carpet photo area.
Each school on the tour will hang its banner in its cafeteria as a reminder of what the students bring to their lives, schools and communities.
Kick Off & Press Event - Medrano Middle School - Dallas, TX
Francisco Medrano Middle School, Dallas, TX
Nov 9, 2009
Students greeted Texas Department of Agriculture and Commissioner Todd Staples with their own banners stating, “Medrano Eagles Can Bring It!”
The red carpet.
Commissioner Staples and students red carpet photo.
Sneak Peek!
Texas Department of Agriculture, Austin TX
Nov 4, 2009
Today we are in Austin, TX at the TDA offices setting up the footprint in a parking lot to allow the office staff to see the whole setup and add their two cents.
We have 10 parking spaces cleared for the setup and we will be doing a full run-through for the big event in Dallas next week, before continuing onto middle school campuses all around TX.
Should be a great day. Upper seventies, sunshine, and lots of interest from passers by. Stay tuned for current setup pics and layout plans of the walk through.
Univision Family Health Fair
George R Brown Convention Center
Nov. 1, 2009 : Noon-4pm
Our first Bring It! Tour stop was a smash success! We must've had close to 500 kids come through the Tour! For almost 2 hours I couldn't even get away from the Pyramid Spins station for a drink of water. I know that Ben, the Red Carpet Photo Tour Guide, shot so much Polaroid film that we had to order more for the next stop!
Can I just say that the Nutrition Bus was a huge hit and the fake muscle and fat models that Tour Guide Paige had as a demonstration were the stars? I mean really! AND, my favorite part was the holiday lights strung on the inside of the bus! Very VIP.
Here's what some of the kids wrote in answering the question on the Bring It wall, "what do you bring?"
More later... I just can't believe we are finally launching Texans Bring It! YAY!!!