US: McDougle Elementary School Receives USDA Award

McDougle Elementary School in the Klein Independent School District received the HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Certification for its efforts in promoting healthy eating. One other Texas school, T.J. Lee Elementary School in Irving, has also been a recipient of the award. The award was given through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Service. Mr. Robert Salazar, appointed by President George W. Bush, represented the USDA Food and Nutrition Service at the award ceremony. He leads the national effort to change lives of children by providing them with access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education.

In recognition of McDougle's accomplishment, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said, "There has never been a better time than now to battle obesity in Texas, and the best place to start is in our schools. Congratulations to McDougle Elementary for being a leader in teaching students how to eat healthy and be active. It's the three Es - education, exercise and eating right - that will ultimately assist us in conquering the current obesity epidemic that threatens Texas children today."

The purpose of the HealthierUS program is to ensure the continued development of healthier lifestyles for children. The factors of well-balanced meals, nutrition education, and daily physical activity contribute toward success in the competition.
To promote nutrition at McDougle, activities were offered to involve children in learning how to eat healthily. The food service department offered a food test that allowed fifth grade students to evaluate proposed menu items based on taste and nutrition. All students were taught about the food pyramid and participated in a vegetable tasting. In the future, they will participate in a whole grain taste test. Additionally, the mobile dairy of the Southwest Dairy Center visited the campus to teach a lesson on the value of milk in the diet.

The menu at McDougle meets the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To achieve this level of nutrition, KISD dieticians Ms. Tiffany Turek and Ms. Teresa Lane implemented a menu for each Klein ISD elementary school. The elementary lunches include each week the following: three or more different fruits, five or more different vegetables, three or more dark green or orange fruits or vegetables, cooked legumes, four different entrées. On a daily basis the students are offered whole grain food, fresh/raw fruit, a good source of vitamin C, two sources of iron, and 1% or skimmed milk.

McDougle physical education teachers Ms. Sherri Nichols, Mr. Scott Stringfield, and Ms. Kelly Marchand-Simons provide activities to meet the standards of CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health), a Texas Education Agency approved coordinated school health program designed to promote physical activity, healthy food choices, and prevent tobacco use in elementary school aged children. By teaching children that eating healthy and being physically active every day can be FUN, the CATCH Program has proved that establishing healthy habits in childhood can promote behavior change that carry into adulthood.

Mr. Jamal Hazzan, director of the Klein ISD food service department, described winning the award as "awesome." He said, "This accomplishment is the result of collaboration among the food service department, the athletic department, and the administration of McDougle Elementary School. Each of these three groups is focused on doing what is best for students." A line dance demonstration was included as a part of the awards ceremony to show a healthy lifetime activity and to reflect the spirit of Texas during the month of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

A vegetable rap presented by kindergarten students was also in the program. They were accompanied by the McDougle Drum Corps under the direction of Ms. Maryanne Navickas. The Klein Forest Air Force JROTC presented the colors. They are under the direction of Colonel Ernest Veranes.

Members of the McDougle Team Nutrition Committee are principal Lynn Brown, Ms. Turek, food service manager Brandie Fields, Ms. Nichols, parent Brenda Harper, and assistant principal Patty Holleck. The Klein ISD is located in north Harris County and has more than 42,841 students in its twenty-five (25) elementary, eight (8) intermediate, and four (4) high schools. Visit the district's Web site at www.kleinisd.net for additional information about the Klein Independent School District.

Source: happynews.com

Publication date: 3/13/2008

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