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Competitive Food Initiatives in Rural School Districts
Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, districts will have to comply with USDA’s Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition guidelines. Districts residing in states that do not have strong competitive food policies must revamp their wellness policies. Rural districts face different challenges than their urban counterparts, including food access issues, vendor availability, and lack of administrative resources. Since 2012, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, has been working with nine districts, five of which are rural, to help them improve their competitive foods policies. A large component of the initiative has been the mentor/mentee program, in which districts that have been successful in changing their competitive foods policy are paired with districts who want to change their policy. This session will focus on: 1) the particular challenges rural districts encounter; 2) how the mentor/mentee partnership has been a powerful tool in assisting districts, and, 3) will showcase districts’ successes in improving their competitive foods policies.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationLearning Objectives:
Describe innovative ways in which rural school districts can comply with USDA Smart Snacks in Schools guidelines by effectively addressing food access issues, vendor availability, and lack of administrative resources
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working on health promotion, specifically obesity prevention, chronic disease prevention, and nutrition education, for 8 years. I am a former healthy chef and wellness coach, and my academic and current professional pursuits focus on school food and wellness policies, with much attention dedicated to competitive foods.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.