Wellness policy developed
Thursday, July 27, 2006
By JEANETTE DeFORGE
jdeforge@repub.com
HOLYOKE - A school health study showed the difficulty of providing nutritious meals children will eat and fitting exercise into the day, when teachers are supposed to increase academic time.
A 20-member committee of school employees, parents and community health workers studied school nutrition, physical education and other things to develop a school-wellness policy. The School Committee is now reviewing it.
The policy was required as part of the federal school lunch program, but William D. O'Brien, director of food and nutrition services for Holyoke, said discussions were interesting and worthwhile.
Much of the focus was on reducing obesity. Members talked about ensuring children get five servings of fruits or vegetables daily, spend no more than two hours watching television or using a computer and get an hour of physical activity.
"Childhood obesity is a nationwide issue, and there have been studies that show low-income communities have a bigger problem," he said.
Holyoke is the poorest city in the state, and more than 80 percent of students are low-income.
Holyoke has never sold candy or soda in vending machines, an issue some educators are discussing.
O'Brien said members agreed school lunches are generally healthy, but said he will serve more whole grains and fewer baked goods and limit portions of baked french fries.
Members discussed ways children could be even more active by doing such things as stretching between lessons so they could increase activity but not cut into time for math and reading, he said.
Marjorie A. D'Addario, the parent of two elementary school children and a committee member, said the plan calls for a 15- or 20-minute recess before, instead of after, lunch.
By the time children stand in the lunch line, they have as few as seven minutes to eat and play. Some children will bolt their food or throw it away so they have recess time, she said.
"This way they don't have to choose between socializing and eating," she said.
She also discussed concerns about too many classroom celebrations, where parents will bring in candy. When events come one after another, she ends up throwing away the candy her children bring home.
"I'm all in favor of food being used to celebrate, but not used for a reward," she said. "Candy here and there is not bad."
One of the surprising lessons was in the number of children who only eat in school, said Becky Michaels, marketing director for Holyoke Health Center.
"I thought one of the most interesting things was finding the balance between providing healthy foods ... and finding out which foods children will eat," she said.
Article