NOVEMBER SIGNALS A GOOD TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR HEALTH AND NUTRITION
As we head into November, we wanted to mention the importance of health and nutrition. Our San Antonio ISDs celebrate in many ways, but did you know they participate in National School Lunch Week? This year Oct 14-18 was desginated as School Lunch Week in hopes of bringing attention to the National School Lunch Program. The program serves approximately 3 million children in Texas alone. It requires most schools to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free/ low-fat milk, reduce the levels of sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat, and meet the nutritional needs of students within their calorie requirements.
Eating a balanced and nutritious lunch helps build strong bones, bolster immune systems, lower risk of obesity, and increase cognitive functioning. Studies have shown that students who eat healthy lunches perform better on state tests and have better focus in school. Economically disadvantaged students are guaranteed at least one nutritional meal while they are at school, which has led to higher attendance rates.
A regular routine of healthy lunches lowers students’ overall sugar and sodium intake while it teaches them lifelong healthy eating habits.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Why School Meals Matter
- USDA: FACT SHEET: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act School Meals Implementation
- Berkeley: School Lunch Quality and Academic Performance
Here is how some of our Go Public San Antonio school districts honored National School Lunch Week:
It’s the perfect recipe for a fun Friday lunch at Northside ISD’s Martin Elementary School! In honor of National School Lunch Week, Principal JJ Perez served students in the cafeteria line.
Harlandale ISD joined school districts across the nation in celebrating National School Lunch Week! The HISD Child Nutrition staff works tirelessly to serve more than 23,000 meals per day across their 23 campuses-that is more than 3 million meals a year!
All 46 elementary schools in North East ISD held a taste test of their new buffalo chicken mac & cheese recipe. There were voting stations so the Child Nutrition staff could get direct feedback from the children and school staff, and the responses were GREAT!
