Why School Meals Matter Maximizing Opportunities to Support Student Health and Academic Achievement ______________________________ California Healthy Students Research Project Lunch Briefing November 16, 2011 1 California Food Policy Advocates is a statewide public policy and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of low‐income Californians by increasing their access to nutritious, affordable food. School Meals USDA Programs • • • • National School Lunch Program (NSLP) School Breakfast Program (SBP) Afterschool snacks and meals Summer meals • Primarily funded by USDA – State shares administrative cost, and supplements meal reimbursement School Meals California Requirements • Public schools must make a meal available to low‐income students (usually lunch) “State meal mandate” – Ed Code 49550 • No requirement that schools serve breakfast or other specific meal Why School Meals Matter • School meals are a critical part of the safety net • Students who participate in NSLP and SBP receive over half of their daily nutritional intake at school • Focus on school meals is a win/win/win: – benefits students’ health/wellness, – academic achievement and positive behavior, – district’s finances Hungry Minds High Need, Low Participation in CA Students from low‐income households are eligible for a free or reduced price meal (FRP) • Over 1 million FRP‐eligible students do not participate in the National School Lunch Program • Over 2.3 million FRP‐eligible students do not participate in the School Breakfast Program. Source: CDE ‐ Nutrition Services Division data for 2009‐10 SY Revenue for CA School Districts Additional USDA Reimbursements • $473,270,000 if all students eligible for a FRP meal participated in NSLP • $297,623,000 if all low‐income students participating in NSLP also participated in SBP. Source: CDE ‐ Nutrition Services Division data for 2008‐09 SY Poverty and Overweight Growing Need • 17 % of California Children live in poverty • Over 23 % of children 5‐ 20 are overweight and an additional 18% are at risk of overweight Source: 2007 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 • Nutritional improvements – Whole grains, low‐fat dairy, reduced sodium, fresh fruits and vegetables • Strengthening Wellness Policies • Six cent performance based reimbursement increase • Farm to School Grants • Availability of free, fresh drinking water required 9 Fresh & Real Food in Schools • Fresh food prepared in schools closer to the point of service – Increased appeal of menus for students – Opportunity to control nutritional quality – Decreased food costs, freeing up funds for increased staff training or higher quality ingredients Challenges to Improving Meals • Training food service staff and directors • Equipment and facilities • Image of school food, misperceptions and disconnect between nutrition and academics • Restrictions on funds available to improve programs Oakland Unified School District Nutrition Services Provides meal service to 101 K-12 schools 20+ Early Childhood Education centers 70% of OUSD students qualify for free/reduced meals – – – – Lunch at all schools Universal Free Breakfast is served at 95 schools After school snack is served at 75 schools After school supper is served at 9 schools Daily we serve at K-12 schools – 7,300 breakfasts – 21,300 lunches – 8,400 snacks Oakland Unified School District Nutrition Services • Harvest of the Month education program at 37 schools • Salad Bar Program at 67 Schools • Produce Markets at 23 Schools • Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program at 22 Elementary Schools • Provision II Breakfast & Lunch at 46 schools Nutrition Services has approximately 250 employees (AFSCME, UAOS, SEIU, and Confidential) Nutritional Improvements in OUSD Eliminated -High sodium items -90% of white bread (replaced with whole grain) -Trans fats and deep fryers -2% milk Reduced -Chocolate milk offered 1x/wk -Pizza 1x/wk in Elementary Schools -Processed food (increasing scratch cooking) Nutritional Improvements in OUSD Increased Fresh Fruit and Vegetables -Salad bars at 67 schools -“Meatless Mondays” at all schools, only vegetarian entrees available -Fresh fruit at breakfast daily -Fresh produce at lunch daily Farm to School • The 17,000 Mile Asparagus • Developed 2009-10 SY in partnership with Community Alliance with Family Farmers • California Department of Food & Agriculture Grant • The Produce Business Salad Bar Program Far West High School Oakland Fresh Markets • Produce Markets at 22 schools • Partnership with East Bay Asian Youth Center • Beginning of Farm to School Program Implementation Nutrition Education • Harvest of the Month • Oakland Eats Garden Fresh • Produce Markets Cooking Demos Value of Partnerships • • • • Thought partners Expansion of services to families Expansion of funding opportunities Creation of allies Current Meal Program Improvement Work • • • • • • Implementation of local produce purchasing policy Expanding breakfast programs and participation Continued implementation of the Salad Bar Program serving 5 additional schools. Expansion of Universal Free Lunch Program Food Scrap recycling efforts. Cooking with California Food The time is now! There are increasing efforts and awareness at the local, state and federal levels Team California For Healthy Kids State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson • promote healthy eating and physical activity • making healthy choices the easy choices Opportunity for CA to be a leader in supporting school nutrition as a key component of student health and academic achievement Let’s Move Campaign HealthierUS Schools Challenge Rigorous criteria for schools’ • food quality, • participation in meal programs, • physical activity opportunities, • nutrition education Policy Opportunities • Build off legislative successes supporting child nutrition – AB 1413 – Water in Schools – SB 2084 – Healthy Beverages in Child Care – SB 12 and 965 – School Nutrition Standards – SB 490 – Trans Fats Recognition of School Meals • Millions of California school children rely on meals each day – Need to commit to making the meals as healthy and accessible as possible – Support student nutrition, academics, and district finances Potential of School Meals Strong School Meal Programs support ‐ Student health ‐ Academic achievement ‐ Agriculture ‐ Job growth Many connections in support of school meals! CFPA’s Legislative Agenda • Bringing the benefits of child nutrition programs to more children by: – Increasing access – Increasing participation – Improving nutritional quality Discussion and Q&A CFPA Ellen Braff‐Guajardo, ellen@cfpa.net Markell Lewis, markell@cfpa.net OUSD‐Nutrition Services Jennifer LeBarre, jennifer.lebarre@ousd.k12.ca.us Resources California Food Policy Advocates cfpa.net BreakfastFirst Campaign BreakfastFirst.org