 RFFK to Date
MOVEMENT GATHERS SUPPORT, MOMENTUM
We are encouraged by the strong support we've received from the FCPS community and School Board since our highly successful Food Day event with special guest Chef Ann Cooper, aka "The Renegade Lunch Lady"at Wolf Trap Elementary School last October. Chef Ann continues to be an inspiration and advisor.
In January, representatives from Real Food for Kids embarked on a
"road tour" of Fairfax County public schools, meeting with PTA members to inform them of our mission and to gather resolutions from those schools in support of the movement.
32 schools have now adopted the Resolution to Improve School Food in Fairfax County Public Schools. If your school has not yet been visited by a member of RFFK, please contact us at contact@realfoodforkids.orgIn February, the Fairfax County School Board passed an amendment to fund a study of FCPS Food and Nutrition Services to identify cost-effective ways to transition to a more whole foods menu. The study, which is to be funded by FNS, will not effect the FCPS budget. The School Board is currently working on a Request for Proposal that will be sent to potential third-party consultants. We have recently learned that FNS is looking to replace the 26-ingredient Hamburger currently on the menu with one containing only ground beef and seasonings. In addition, the 50+ ingredient Quesadilla is to be removed from the menu in the upcoming school year.
These changes speak directly to the support you have given RFFK in this movement. Your voices are being heard. But this is just the beginning. Your ongoing support and advocacy are vital to continued change in our cafeterias and the vision of providing REAL FOOD to Fairfax County students.
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Get Real at Home: 9-5-2-1-0
Did you know when you sleep, your body is building up energy, repairing injuries, and growing? If you don't get enough sleep, your body will not be as healthy as if you get about 9 hours of sleep per day.
Did you know that whole fruits and vegetables provide the best source of the vitamins and minerals your body needs? Eating at least 5 servings of different colored fruits and vegetables is the best way to make sure you are getting all the nutrition your body needs.
Did you know that if you spend more than 2 hours watching TV, computer or video game screens, you might do worse in school than if you reduced your screen time?
Did you know that physical activity is important not only for helping your body stay healthy and strong but also for helping you feel happy? Adding at least 1 hour of exercise to your day might make you feel like smiling!
Did you know that sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks, and juice drinks have very few if any benefit for your body? In fact, they mostly just do harm! Water is the best drink and eating fresh fruit is the best way to get some juicy sweetness in your diet. Replace your Gatorade with water and fresh fruit for a healthy change.
The start of spring is when many people resolve to make healthier choices and break bad habits. Is there anything you'd like to make better for yourself this season? 9 Get at least 9 hours of sleep per night 5 Get at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day 2 Limit screen time to 2 hours or less outside school 1 Get at least 1 hours of physical activity per day 0 Drink 0 sugar-added beverages The 9-5-2-1-0 program was created by the Northern Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition |
 Why Salad Bars?
One of the points in the RFFK Resolution to improve the food in FCPS cafeterias is to increase the quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, for example, through salad bars. The Institute of International Medicine report "The School Meals Building Blocks for Healthy Children" cites at 2007 study that determined salad bar programs in public schools indicate positive effects on fruit and vegetable consumption. Yet most Fairfax County schools are without salad bars, despite the encouragement for their installation in school meal programs by the USDA.
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