By David Williams - bio | email
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - There's no denying it: obesity is a problem in schools across Kentucky and our nation.
Federal, state, and local leaders are trying to change that, by serving up more fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods in school lunches.
It starts with something as simple as a fresh piece of fruit like an apple or a fresh vegetable.
On Monday, local, state and federal leaders met to discuss ways to bring even more nutritious items into lunches in Jefferson County Public Schools. Leaders say what kids learn about healthy eating in the cafeteria, they'll use every day for the rest of their lives.
At Lassiter Middle School in Louisville, Keeven Hargrove, 12, knew exactly what was on his lunch tray.
"We've got spicy chicken, and a banana, some milk and some bread and pickles," he said as he pointed to the items on his tray.
Hargrove is one of 63,000 students in the JCPS system that eats a well balanced lunch at school everyday.
"It's good!" He said with a smile.
Before the food ever reaches their plates, it's prepared at the Nutrition Service Center's central kitchen on Farmington Avenue.
That was the same place several leaders from the city, on up to the Federal Government met to discuss how to make these school lunches even healthier.
The goal is to combat a childhood obesity problem that's growing not only in Kentucky, but the nation.
"So many of our children in Kentucky, not only Jefferson County, are on the free lunch programs. So these are the main foods that these children get. If we can provide healthy foods for them - fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and other foods that are prepared with nutrition in mind - then hopefully we'll start to change that, as far as the obesity is concerned."
Dr. Janey Thornton, the United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services said nutrition in school lunches is critical.
"Learning to eat properly is probably one of the most important things our kids will learn at school," Thornton said. Because that's something they're going to literally use everyday for the rest of their life. If you are not well fed, you are not going to be able to perform at school."
Thornton also honored 77 elementary schools for their certification as "HealthierUS" schools.
But the healthier eating initiative isn't without its challenges.
"We need to be more proactive in our department of educating students about the importance of these healthier foods," said Julia Bauscher with JCPS.
"We need to encourage them to try them [healthy foods]. We don't have to say you can take fresh Kale or corn, because they'll prefer corn, but along with their corn, we'll offer them a sample of fresh kale, and encourage them to try more variety," Bauscher said.
Hargrove says he would enjoy the added fruits and vegetables.
Bauscher says all of the district's 144 school's lunch menus do meet the U.S.D.A nutrition requirements. However, all of them do not currently meet the physical activity requirements, which is why they were all not certified.
She said that certification will happen once the schools decide to individually meet the U.S.D.A "HealthierUS" physical activity requirements by adding physical activities to their offerings either in class or via a structured Physical Education program.
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