The Daily Iberian

It’s time to can the soda, dump the fries, boot the fast foods and purge the high-calorie snacks from children’s diets to promote healthy eating.

As a result of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 signed into law by President Barack Obama Dec. 13, the United States Department of Agriculture released a new set of proposed regulations Thursday in its first step to overhaul the nutrition system for schoolchildren whose meals are subsidized by the federal government.

While the new act may pose a challenge for some school districts to meet all requirements, it was designed to create a healthy environment for students to make healthy choices carried into an adult lifetime.

Leslie Wimberley, Iberia Parish School Board supervisor of child nutrition/dietitian, referred to a statement from the Healthy, Hunger Free-Kids Act, which summarizes Iberia Parish school system’s goals to promote health and wellness in the schools.

“The overall goal for our students with regard to health and wellness in our parish is to educate and promote wellness and physical activity, good nutrition to students in efforts to ‘jump-start’ and sustain health, nutritional and physical activity as a conditioned lifestyle for prevention of health related illness and disease by helping our parish raise a healthier generation of children,” she said.

But even with the new regulations for school meals, Wimberley said it is important for parents to make sure children make healthy choices when they are away from the school environment if the change is to become permanent lifetime change.

The act recognized the importance of school meals to the health and academic success of America’s children and gives school nutrition programs critical resources, technical assistance and flexibility to bring about the necessary changes.

When the act was signed into law by President Obama, Wimberley said it was applauded by many, including First Lady Michelle Obama, who championed its passage after she was instrumental in developing the “Let’s Move” campaign focusing her efforts to improve health of children.

The proposed changes to school meal standards under the new guidelines would add more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk to school meals. Schools also would be required to limit the levels of saturated fat, sodium, calories and trans fats in meals.

“It is always a big challenge for parents to get their children to eat healthier. We need to remember, children aren’t perfect eaters, but they can learn to make healthy choices when they are given the options,” Wimberley said.

“If we educate them on healthy choices, they will ultimately make the healthy choice. We need to lay down the framework now.”

Wimberley said the Iberia Parish School Board recently received a $17,000 wellness grant through the Louisiana School Board Association, with a portion dedicated to address nutrition in the schools.

The new guidelines set forth by the USDA are expected to have a big impact on children’s nutrition, she said.

Wimberley said one way to achieve the goal of good nutrition, is for parents to take their children grocery shopping and use the time to introduce them to healthier options when making their food selections.

By preplanning meals and the use of leftovers, there is more of a chance that each meal will provide healthy options, she said.

If baking a chicken for one meal, plan to serve it with a salad or vegetable on the first night, and on the second use the leftovers to prepare a chicken salad with egg and low fat mayonnaise, served on whole grain bread.

“Always invite the child to work together in preparing a meal in the kitchen. This always sparks an interest in meal planning,” she said.

Wimberley said it is important to teach the “anything in moderation” concept to children.

“You can call it a now-and-then snack and allow them to have a snack of their choice in a small amount. Portion size is important to teach to children,” she said.

Although eating at restaurants should be limited, Wimberley said it does provide an a great opportunity to teach children about selecting the best menu choices.

“Teach them how they can order dressings and gravies on the side versus on top of food. Encourage, baked broiled, grilled meat selections over fried,” she said.

Just importantly, Wimberley said, is to incorporate physical activity into everyday lifestyle.

“Be a fitness role model to your children. Incorporate it in your own lifestyle so they will see it as necessary and important as a way of life,” she said.

When shopping, she recommended parking a good distance from the store entrance and encourage walking, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk or bike as a family around the neighborhood or park.

USDA is seeking input on the proposed nutrition guidelines from the public through April 13. Those interested in reviewing the proposal and offering comments are can do so at www.regulations.gov.