When I was working on a recent television interview in which I discussed school lunches, I was prompted to check on the progress of my daughter's school lunches this year. I was pleased to find out that her school district has taken on the HealthierUS School Challenge!
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| Volunteer initiative for schools to make |
their environments heathier for children.
What is the HealthierUS School Challenge?
The HealthierUS School Challenge is a government-to-school encourager to voluntarily make school environments healthier. The participation rate started skyrocketing when First Lady Michelle Obama added incentives to schools that took part. The result is that more and more schools are cleaning up their kitchens - reducing fat, calories and sugar and adding more nutrient-rich foods in their place - for the sake of our growing children.
HealthierUS Food Guidelines
The initiative as a whole includes good nutrition and physical activity. Here is a brief rundown of what your child will be exposed to when he/she eats the school lunch:
- Offers a different vegetable each day of the week
- Offers dark green or orange vegetables 3 or more days each week
- Offer dry beans and/or peas 1 or more days each week
- Offers a different fruit each day of the week
- Offers at least a serving of whole grains 3 or more days each week
- Offers only low-fat and fat-free milk each day
In addition to the foods that must be included, the schools must also:
- Teach nutrition education to the children
- Incorporate the teaching into the classrooms
- Use multiple channels of communication including the cafeteria, classroom and home
I don't know about you, but I see this as a big improvement. Hannah's school is teaching them MyPlate, the new USDA food icon, so they can make their own decision to fuel up with great food choices. Educating, Exposing and Empowering are 3 of my keys to long-term proper nutrition. It starts in childhood! Talk to your children about the food choices they make and empower them to eat the super power foods that will help them make good grades and do better at their extra cirricular activities.
Does your school participate in the HealthierUS School Challenge? Find out here. If this is their first year to participate, you may want to contact your child's foodservice manager and ask them. If they are not currently participating, encourage them to do so! For more information on the HealthierUS School Challenge, go to: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/HealthierUS/vision.html.
About Angela Lemond
Angela is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and co-owner of Lemond Nutrition. She left a successful career in corporate marketing a in 2000 to pursue her love for nutrition. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas Southwestern coordinated dietetics program, she began her career at Children's Medical Center in Dallas (now Children's Health). She trained in all areas in the hospital before landing in cardiology then gastroenterology and eventually helped start the LEAN (Lifestyle, Exercise & Nutrition) Families program for overweight children. Angela started her private practice in 2008 and left Children's in 2009. Angela is Board Certified as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition. Most recently, she has co-authored and is certified as a LEAN Freedom dietitian coach.
After transitioning out of inpatient pediatrics, she started understanding the importance of wellness across the family unit. Angela loves to motivate all ages to show folks the power food has to help achieve their goals and purpose in life. Whether that be helping someone with a medical problem that food can provide therapy for, or for general wellness. The behavioral aspects of eating cannot be understated. Angela loves to coach her patients and clients on the what, when and how of eating well for their specific goals. Areas she feels the most passionate about are family wellness, eating disorder recovery and digestive issues.
Angela is a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which is the 100,000 member professional organization for food and nutrition professionals across the world. Quoted nationally on hot nutrition topics, her specialties revolve around children, families and general wellness. She is serving as a media representative and Delegate for the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the 4,600-member Texas affiliate of the Academy.
Angela is married with two children - Hannah age 14 and Evan age 11.
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A note from Angela:
It is my honor that you came to visit our website! If you are looking for nutrition services for you, your child, family or even if you are looking to hire us for a wellness presentation or write an article - it's important to me that you know some background on what drives our company's passion. When it comes to food and nutrition guidance, it needs to come from someone you know cares and understands.
Be sure to read our mission, vision and motto. We know that it's important that you know who you are putting your trust in to optimize your health. The staff here truly puts their heart into everything they do - each have unique skills, personalities and specialties.
Read more about my personal inspiration here.
We have have people that have gone before us and mentored us along the way. Be sure to thank them. I would like to give a special recognition for the those poignant people in my life here.
In Health & Wellness,
Angela Lemond, RDN, CSP, LD