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BOARD ENDORSES FINDING STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHY EATING,
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
October 27, 2003
With obesity rates for teens doubling in the last 20 years
and with statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention linking excess weight in children to serious
health problems, the Miami-Dade School Board voted last
Wednesday to find ways to create a healthier school
environment.
Recent research provides compelling evidence of a clear
connection between nutrition and learning. Poor nourishment
hurts student behavior, school performance, the ability to
concentrate and the ability to perform complex tasks. Other
studies show that providing more opportunities for physical
activity promotes student achievement and increased test
scores, especially in mathematics.
"Taking care of our children's bodies is every bit as
important as taking care of their minds," said Dr. Michael
M. Krop, Board Chair. "We intend to make Miami-Dade schools
a national leader by providing the best in nutrition and
physical activity."
The action calls for the superintendent to present a report
to the Board by December with plans for the
following:
making a
commitment to nutrition and physical activity a
priority
supporting
nutrition education and physical education
providing
a pleasant eating environment
ensuring
a variety of healthy food choices in school meals
monitoring
competitive food sales and vending machine contents,
and
encouraging
a collaborative approach with the
community.
The district's
Department of Food and Nutrition recently launched a vending
machine pilot program at 17 Miami-Dade schools that provides
healthier lunch options. Instead of sodas, candy bars and
chips, these machines are stocked with sugar-free juices,
bottled water, salads and baked chips in addition to low-fat
items.
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03-MV054/HD
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