Five Cheshire Schools Earn ‘HealthierUS’ Bonze Medal Awards

In recent years, promoting healthier diets and proper exercise has worked it’s way into the Cheshire school curriculum and the changes are paying off for more than just the local students.

Each of the towns eight public elementary schools were honored with the Bronze School recognition this week for their work during the 2011-12 school year as part of the HealthierUS School Challenge, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced.

The school district received $2,500 as part of their award.

Highland Elementary, Norton Elementary, Chapman Elementary, Doolittle Elementary and Dodd Middle School all received the honor for “creating healthier school environments through improvements in the quality of school meals while providing both nutrition and physical education to promote healthy lifestyles,” said Gary Turco on behalf of the USDA.

“This was a collaborative effort between food service and faculty, healthy meals and healthy students, with emphasis in providing the kids nutrition education and physical activity.  This is an awesome district,” said Cheshire Food Services Director Madeleine C. Diker.

The district over the past several years has worked to implement a program in which healthier lunch options are offered, including more fruits and vegetables, for students purchasing lunch at school.

In order to qualify for the Bronze award, the Cheshire school district had to demonstrate that these schools met all the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) nutritional requirements on an on-going basis, serving a variety of healthier foods that appeal to the students, planning meals that emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy products; and that include lean proteins and foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

Furthermore, the school was required to prove its compliance with nutrition education, wellness, and the physical activity criteria of the HUSSC according to age group.

The HUSSC is a key component in Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign and has also helped prepare schools to implement the meal pattern changes developed by the USDA for nationwide implementation during the current school year.

Cheshire received the recognition during an award ceremony took place at the Second Annual School Breakfast Summit in East Hartford late last week. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Regional Administrator, James Arena-DeRosa was on hand to present the HealthierUS awards, a commemorative plaque, HUSSC banners, and a check for $2,500 to the school district.

For more details on the USDA’S HeathierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) visit www.teamnutrition.usda.gov.

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