PROFESSIONAL
Professional Development
Stepping Up to the HealthierUS Schools Challenge
This year, Michelle Obama's Lets Move Campaign incorporated the HealthierUS Schools Challenge (HUSSC) program into its efforts to combat childhood obesity and diabetes. Begun in 2004, HUSSC encourages schools to serve healthier meals in their cafeterias and gives them a chance to earn funding to achieve this goal. Now that it's an important part of Let's Move, the program has begun granting four monetary incentive awards:
- Bronze ($500)
- Silver ($1,000)
- Gold ($1,500)
- Gold Award of Distinction ($2,000)
The impetus behind HUSSC is the knowledge that student health is closely linked to academic performance. The program helps schools improve the quality of food they serve. It also enables them to provide better nutrition education and encourages an increase in physical education.
Eligibility for the program requires that each school be part of the National School Lunch Program, be a Team Nutrition School, and offer reimbursable lunches that abide by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA's nutrition standards. A school must also support its local district's wellness policy.
If your school wins an award from HUSSC, then it must meet the program's criteria for at least four years:
- School meals should meet energy and nutrient standards.
- Portion sizes must be appropriate for the student's age.
- Schools should supply a variety of healthy foods with each meal that "look good, taste good, and appeal to the cultural sensitivities of the school and community populations."
- Ingredients should be low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and sugars.
The HUSSC Web site provides more detailed information on its requirements and Dietary Guidelines. You'll also find a helpful menu planner and a competitive foods calculator that lets you know if the foods you're serving meet HUSSC criteria for its awards.
To take part in the challenge, review the application at teamnutrition.usda.gov and contact your State Child Nutrition Agency. They'll help you get started on your quest to create a healthier school environment for your students.
