School lunches: working to provide healthful alternatives

Here are some words of wisdom and experience from Kids First and Stonyfield Farm to help you get started toward making changes in your schools.

1. Visit Your School

Check out what snack foods are currently served to students; talk to teachers and the principal about your interest in improving the nutritional value of foods in the school.

2. Build Support & Include Students

Solicit the support of other parents and students to develop a diverse group and to share the workload. Students, as well as teachers, food service staff members, a local pediatrician, a nutritionist, PTA members, local business persons and children's advocacy groups can play a vital role.

3. Set Early Goals

Define goals and priorities, and learn about what other schools have done. Use existing programs such as the USDA's Team Nutrition program, Menu for Change or individual school or state programs.

4. Meet with Vending Machine Decision Makers

In some schools, administrators manage the vending machine program; in others, the program might be run by the students. Be prepared to answer questions about cost.

5. Scout Out the School Board

School hoard members are very busy, but providing a healthful learning environment for students is their job. Decide which members are likely allies, and meet with them personally before presenting your ideas to the school board.

6. Create a Strategy for Success

Include a step-by-step process that identifies tasks and deadlines. Make it realistic, and take into consideration seasonal variables such as holidays and summer breaks.

7. Talk to the Media

Develop relationships with reporters, distribute press releases and write letters to your newspaper.

8. Watchdog the Policy

A workable school food policy must be maintained. Budgets are always tight, and for some, old habits may be hard to kick, so track and attend important meetings, and develop good relations with food service professionals.

9. Start Small

If changing the whole system is more than you want to take on, start small. Encourage kids to replace one unhealthful lunchbox item with a wholesome one; start a classroom garden; offer to arrange for chefs to visit your child's classroom for a cooking demonstration.

10. Make Changes at Home

Nutrition and physical education at home can help your children fend off peer pressure to eat junk food and skip PE. More and more, food products are designed to be both "cool" and healthful, and activity is good for adults and kids alike.

For further information, contact: Stonyfield Farm, www.stonyfield.com, 1.800.PRO.COWS (776.2697)

Kids First, www.kidsfirstri.org, 401.751.4503

USDA Team Nutrition, www.fns.usda.gov/tn/, 703.305.1624

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, www.pcrm.org, 202.686.2210

Quick & Healthful Lunch Ideas

* Indian Tacos--Wrap a tortilla around cooked chicken and lettuce with a tablespoon each of yogurt and chutney.

* Banana Split--Slice a banana down the middle, fill the crevice with chocolate chips, peanut butter and nuts, and cat cold or microwave for 30 seconds,