Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a "foodie" holiday which brings our discussion of nutrition to the forefront.  

In recent years we have become much more health-conscious as a society when it comes to the food we consume. In the face of indisputable evidence of the dangers of a diet laden with too many preserved and fast foods, many have turned to diets high in organic and freshly prepared food and have seen huge health benefits, greater feelings of wellbeing and increases in productivity as well.   

But what of our students?  

The debate over school lunches, of what they should consist, how healthy they need to be and of their importance in our students' lives has become hotter in recent years, as studies repeatedly show connections between a student's mental, physical and academic health and the kind of food they consume on a daily basis. 

There are many examples of parental and student involvement leading to positive change in our school food programs; in this issue we'll provide information that may spark new ideas that could result in transformation at home and eventually in your school canteen.  

At Academic Success, we're invested in all the aspects of ours students' health and wellbeing.  

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398, or

All the best,

Jamie

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."  

                                        - William Butler Yeats 

With over 30 million students eating a school lunch every day from canteens that in many cases lack kitchens, it's not surprising that obesity among our kids has become a major problem, compounded by the presence of snack food manufacturers outdoing each other to get our kids to buy their products. This engrossing article outlines the challenges we face in getting kids to move away from high-calorie, low-nutrient foods in our schools. 

Is Pizza A Vegetable? 

That's the question being asked in response to a rollback in school lunch standards included in a recent spending bill passed by Congress. While the categorization of tomato paste as a 'vegetable' has been met with a high level of skepticism and in some cases outrage, this Washington Post article provides a slightly different perspective.

  Possible Solutions  

You may have already seen video or read articles about celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his Food Revolution, a campaign to transform the food served to our kids in school. Visit his exciting and informative website to get involved, become more educated on the topic and help to effect change.

A Celebrity Salutes LA Schools   

While there are many problems still to be solved in our school canteens, one famous actress recently took time out to praise LA schools in their efforts to improve school lunches. Having recently given birth to her first child, Natalie Portman recently wrote a letter to Superintendent John Deasy, lauding him for some recent initiatives designed to make LA school food healthier.   

Creating A Meal Planner      

In a sequel to last month's Study Tip to create a Study Planner, we've decided to provide an accompanying Tip inspired by our focus this month on school lunches and the importance of nutrition when it comes to academic achievement: Creating a Meal Planner.

There's no reason why eating healthy, nutritious food, in addition to making us feel good, appear well and be more productive, shouldn't also be fun and give a child a sense of accomplishment. Sitting down with their parents and taking the time to create delicious, healthy meals together can be one of the best ways for students to avoid impulse-eating and the over-consumption of snack foods. Parents from multiple families can also organize cooking classes with their kids to foster an enthusiasm for good, home-cooked food.  

Packing healthy meals at the start of each day using colorful, fun containers and labels can also make eating good food an enjoyable ritual. Setting times to eat those meals in a planner can ensure that students will take the time to eat what they've prepared and not make a detour to a vending machine. Like anything in life, having well-defined goals for eating healthful food and a smart and fun plan to achieve them can make all the difference for our students.