Florida Hosts CATCH EAT SMART
Trainings Statewide
Florida Department of Education, Office of Food and Nutrition Management is committed to facilitating quality nutrition programs that support the growth and development of Florida's children. The department recently hosted three successive CATCH, EAT SMART Nutrition trainings for the food service directors, supervisors, managers , food service staff, and health educators in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami during the last week of February.
Jerri Ward , MA, RD, LD of The University of Texas-School of Public Health and CATCH Nutrition Coordinator presented three lively and interactive trainings to introduce the CATCH Program and Eat Smart. Jerri assisted them in their efforts to promote healthy foods, enhance the school wellness environment, link healthy messages with classroom learning and assist with mandates to carry out the new Wellness Policy goals. These goals include preparing healthy meals, continue nutrition education, and assuring that children are getting appropriate levels of physical activity. Topics of discussion included challenges of healthy menu planning, food purchasing, marketing strategies and innovative ways to promote nutrition messages in the school and to families. Activities that incorporate nutrition learning and physical activity were presented. A "food meditation" exercise had participants taste and then reflect on the connection between what we eat, where it grew, how far it has traveled, and whether it is natural or highly processed. Participants from school districts throughout Florida took these lessons back to their school programs encouraging healthy less processed foods and an increase in fruits, vegetables, high fiber, whole grains, and low fat and saturated fats.
The EAT SMART model encourages programs to evaluate their current programs and work as a team to set goals and implement new improvement strategies. Eat Smart also monitors progress and most importantly take steps toward improving and enhancing the coordinated efforts and communication between school nutrition staff, administrators, teachers and parents.
The CATCH model of GO, SLOW, WHOA food concept was presented that helps children make smart food choices and nutrition directors were encouraged to utilize this on cafeteria signs, school and web based menus. Jerri reminded school nutrition staff to celebrate successes and to take continual small steps toward improving their programs and creating healthy school environments, and to communicate to staff and parents the important role and great job that school nutrition services provide in helping children be healthy. Staff is also encouraged to take an active part in all school functions to build respect for the important role of school nutrition services and encourage staff and parents to be involved in child wellness.
EAT SMART nutrition objectives are based on the nutrition goals of the USDA School Meals Initiative of healthy children.
Rachael Terrin , SNS, Training Coordinator for the Office of Food and Nutrition Management, Florida Department of Education was instrumental in planning these trainings and sees more trainings planned in the near future.
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