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.
No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
About Angela Lemond
Angela is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and co-owner of Lemond Nutrition. Angela has been a nutrition media spokesperson for over 16 years with 9 of those years being a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2011-2021).
Angela still sees patients two days per week. Her specialty areas are clinical pediatrics, digestive health, wellness and behavioral nutrition (prevention and treatment of eating disorders). Angela realizes that behavioral health status is a big influencer in the individual's relationship with food and eating. She loves supporting individuals and involving discussion across the family unit. Angela is a strong proponent of the promotion of health and wellness regardless of body size. Gentle nutrition guidance versus a strict, black and white regimen is her philosophy.
Angela is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern coordinated dietetics program where she entered the food and nutrition profession as a second career professional. Angela is currently working on her master's in clinical mental health counseling and is working to be a dual role practitioner as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). She looks forward to creating more patient / client therapy in the food and mood space.
Nutrition advocacy and professional involvement is important to Angela. She is actively involved in local, state and national legislative issues pertaining to food and nutrition support and coverage. Angela’s a member of the following professional groups:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
--Academy Dietetic Practice Groups: Behavioral Health Nutrition (BHN) and Pediatric Nutrition (PN)
Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) – DFW Chapter
International Federation of Eating Disorders Dietitians
American Counseling Association
(student member)
Texas Counseling Association (student member)
Angela is an avid world traveler and explorer of rich cultures and diversity. She adores the outdoors, her husband of over 20 years (co-owner) and her two children - Hannah age 16 and Evan age 13.
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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, LD