Nutrition Update | Eat Smart, Move More…NC

March 2006

News from the PAN Branch

Important Notice Related to Transition of the NC Winner’s Circle Community Progam — from Diane Beth

The NC Division of Public Health (DPH) is proud to continue its support of the NC Winner‚Äôs Circle in Schools Program.

However, due to limited resources, the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch, DPH, will discontinue its coordination of the NC Winner‚Äôs Circle in Communities Program.

In our continued partnership with NC Prevention Partners, we are pleased to share that NCPP and NCDPH will work together to transition the Winner‚Äôs Circle in Community coordination efforts to NCPP, so that local WC in Community teams can continue to receive the technical assistance and resources needed to support their programs. NCPP is looking forward to helping community teams strengthen their existing Winner‚Äôs Circle programs and expand their reach.
Due to the above, the late March community WC training that was being planned has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

We have arranged a conference call on Thursday, March 16, 2006 — 9:30 -11:00 a.m. to address the transition plans between NCDPH and NCPP, questions from local WC team members, and to introduce you to Meg van Staveren, at NCPP who will be taking on the coordination of the program. The phone number to join the call is 919/733-2511.

Both myself, as the current NC Winner’s Circle Community Coordinator and Meg van Staveren, from NCPP will facilitate the call. If there are questions you would like us to answer, please send them to wc.communities@ncmail.net by March 14.
Please RSVP if you plan on participating in the call, by sending an e-mail to wc.communities@ncmail.net.

It has been a pleasure serving as the primary Community WC Coordinator for the past year and being involved with the overall administration and coordination of the Winner’s Circle program since it’s inception in 1999. Both I and Meg van Staveren, look forward to working with the Community WC teams during this transition.

PS–The transition above does not pertain to the WC in Schools Program. NCDPH will continue to coordinate that aspect of the program, along with its partners in the NC Department of Public Instruction–Child Nutrition Services.

Programs, Projects and Initiatives

SAVE the DATE–2006 NC 5 A Day Symposium & Excellence Award Ceremony — August 9, 2006 Twin City Quarter–Winston-Salem, NC

The goal of the symposium is for participants to return to their communities with resources and innovative ideas for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in schools, WIC Programs, Farmers‚Äô Markets, health departments, and other community avenues.

Registration will be $30 and will include lunch and symposium materials.
Registration materials will be available in May at the NC 5 A Dday website and www.nutritionnc.com.

Celebrate National Nutrition Month — March 2006

The Nutrition Services Branch of NC DPH has again developed nutrition education materials that can be used to promote this year’s National Nutrition Month theme. Download these materials here.

Success Stories

USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP): North Rowan Elementary

North Rowan Elementary was one of 25 North Carolina (NC) schools to implement the FFVP during the 2004-2005 school year (and has continued the program for 2005-06). The NC Department of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Program administers the FFVP, with special funds provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The FFVP at North Rowan Elementary initially introduced a rainbow of fresh produce during a school-wide health fair. Students enjoyed tasting a variety of exotic fruits and vegetables and also had opportunities to watch a dental health presentation and to receive health screenings. After this exciting kick-off event, students received daily fruit/vegetable snacks throughout the year: kiwi, bananas, apples, pineapples, pears, celery, carrots, dried fruit, blood oranges, and star fruit, and more.

The incorporation of nutrition education into classroom curriculum enriched students‚Äô fruit and vegetable taste-testing experiences. Teachers were trained with the Nutrition Education Training (NET) curriculum, Food for Thought. They attended training sessions by grade level, dedicating 45 minutes of valuable planning period time to do so. North Rowan‚Äôs principal supported the education component of the FFVP by requiring teachers to teach 3 nutrition lessons during the course of the school year.

According to a student survey, 91% liked the snacks. 80% said the snacks were new to them. 56% asked their caretakers to buy items they had tried during school snack time, representing the extension of fruit/vegetable promotion into the home environment. As a result of the FFVP, 59% of students knew to have 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. According to a teacher survey, 97% thought that students learned about healthy snacks from this program.

Contact Information:
Libby Post, Rowan-Salisbury Schools Child Nutrition Program
PO Box 2349, Salisbury, NC, 28145
Phone: 704.630.6069
Email: postls@rss.k12.nc.us

Article written by Jenni Albright

Featured Resources and Research

Free School Wellness Tool Kit Provides Resources for Local Citizen Involvement

In 2004, as part of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, Congress added the requirement that all local educational agencies receiving USDA funds for meals must develop and implement a school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. This mandate addresses the growing national concern about the overall health and nutritional status of American children. A healthy school environment can help prevent childhood obesity with its associated health issues like Type 2 diabetes. The new law places the responsibility for creating this improved environment in the hands of local community members and school officials. The development and distribution of the kit was funded by Cattlemen’s Beef Board and is being managed by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Like all of their nutrition education materials, this kit includes information for all food groups and focuses on the importance of healthful eating and physical activity for strong bodies and smart brains. Printed copies will be shipped by March 10, 2006, The kit will be available online at www.beefnutrition.org/matehealthyschoolnutrition.aspx around the same time.

In this tool kit, concerned citizens, health professionals, and school officials can find all the information needed to develop, implement and manage a local school wellness program. This year provides a golden opportunity for individuals to become involved and help make a difference in the critical areas that affect kids’ health and academic success.

To assist this effort, this tool kit provides:
* Background information on the health, weight, and nutrition issues facing American children today
* Evidence for the connection between health concerns and education issues, like academic performance and behavior at school
* Minimum requirements for school wellness policies as established by federal legislation and USDA guidance
* Links to agencies and groups working on school nutrition and physical activity in all 50 states, and to model policies (if available)
* Specific suggestions for effective involvement in school wellness policies at the local level
* General timeline for school wellness policy development, approval, and implementation at the local level
* Updated reprints from School Foodservice & Nutrition, the journal of the School Nutrition Association, which provide important information on the nutrition needs of children during various life stages
* MyPyramid poster, My Pyramid for Kids poster, and relevant charts illustrating the nutritional status of youth and food sources of some essential nutrients.

To order a FREE Tool Kit, please e-mail bredson@beef.org with your UPS delivery address and phone number (for UPS purposes).. Be sure to put “School Wellness Tool Kit” in the subject line.

National School Breakfast Week March 6-10, 2006 with Bright Ideas for Using Eat Smart. Play Hard.

FNS is excited to announce a new style of Bright Ideas for Using the Eat Smart. Play Hard. TM Materials featuring unique ways to celebrate National School Breakfast Week! This latest edition includes suggestions for contests, lesson plans, and activities to make any breakfast celebration complete. Breakfast-promoting posters, bookmarks, activity sheets and more are available on the Eat Smart. Play Hard. TM web site here

To view and download Bright Ideas for National School Breakfast Week access the PDF online here

FNS Programs may order materials at here.

New HRSA Publication

“The Health and Well-Being of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2005,” indicates that, in general, U.S. children are in good health and grow up in healthy environments. It also points to a need to improve access to health care for children from low-income families, those with no health insurance, and children with special health care needs. Visit this link.

DATA2010

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is pleased to announce the update of DATA2010, the on-line Healthy People 2010 database. On January 30, 2006 a new version of the database was made available to the public through the CDC WONDER system. This is the first update of DATA2010 since November 2004 due to the extensive changes made during the Midcourse Review process.

Parents’ Report Executive Summary Now Available

Based on requests from our State Team members, AFHK now has the Executive Summary of the Parents’ Views on School Wellness Practices available. This document summarizes the key learning‚Äôs from the nationwide survey of parents with school-aged children. To view and download this report, visit the AFHK website at Action for Healthy Kids: Exclusive Reports.

News from the Women‚Äôs Health Initiative

Reducing total fat intake may have small effect on risk of breast cancer, no effect on risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease or stroke

Following an eating pattern lower in total fat did not significantly reduce the incidence of breast cancer, heart disease, or stroke, and did not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in healthy postmenopausal women, according to the latest clinical trial results from the National Institutes of Health’s Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).

The study was designed to evaluate a low-fat dietary pattern’s effect on the risk of cancer. However, investigators also evaluated the data to review the effect on cardiovascular disease. The results from the largest ever clinical trial of low-fat diet are reported in three papers in the February 8 edition of the “Journal of the American Medical Association”.

Among the 48,835 women who participated in the trial, there were no significant differences in the rates of colorectal cancer, heart disease, or stroke between the group who followed a low-fat dietary plan and the comparison group who followed their normal dietary patterns. Although the women in the study who reduced their total fat intake had a 9 percent lower risk of breast cancer than did women who made no dietary changes, the difference was not large enough to be statistically significant — meaning it could have been due to chance. By the end of the first year, the low-fat diet group reduced average total fat intakes to 24 percent of calories from fat, but did not meet the study’s goal of 20 percent. At year six, the low-fat diet group was consuming 29 percent of calories from fat. The comparison group averaged 35 percent of calories from fat at year one and 37 percent at year six.

Women in both groups started at 35-38 percent of calories from fat. The low fat diet group also increased their consumption of vegetables, fruits, and grains. Women were aged 50-79 at trial enrollment in 1993-98 and were followed for an average of 8.1 years. The study diet focused on reducing fat, and unlike diets used to reduce heart disease risk, did not differentiate between “good fats” found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils, and “bad” fats like saturated fat and trans fat found in processed foods, meats, and some dairy products.

The study design reflected a widely believed but untested theory that reduction of total fat would reduce risks of breast or colorectal cancers. For heart disease, it was anticipated that reduction in total fat would be accompanied by a reduction in saturated fats, which are known to contribute to heart disease risk. “The results of this study do not change established recommendations on disease prevention. Women should continue to get regular mammograms and screenings for colorectal cancer, and work with their doctors to reduce their risks for heart disease including following a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol,” said National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults keep total fat intake between 20 and 35 percent of calories, and saturated fats less than 10 percent of calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. For people with heart disease or at high risk for heart disease, targets for saturated fats may be further lowered. “This study shows that just reducing total fat intake does not go far enough to have an impact on heart disease risk. While the participants’ overall change in LDL “bad” cholesterol was small, we saw trends towards greater reductions in cholesterol and heart disease risk in women eating less saturated and trans fat,” said Jacques Rossouw, M.D., WHI project officer.

The study also found that following a high-carbohydrate, low-fat eating pattern does not increase body weight, triglycerides or indicators of increased risk of diabetes such as blood glucose or insulin levels in women. “Study data indicate that women who started with the highest fat intake and who had greater changes in fat intake, show stronger evidence for reduction in their risk of breast cancer. Longer follow-up may be needed to show the effects of diet on cancer risk over time,” said Leslie G. Ford, M.D., National Cancer Institute.

Though the overall risk of colorectal cancer was unchanged in the dietary trial, secondary analyses suggested a possible benefit in women who were taking aspirin or combined hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin); however, these findings could have occurred by chance. Polyps and adenomas (thought to be precursors of cancer) were reduced by 9%, suggesting that a benefit for colorectal cancer risk might emerge over time.

The WHI is the most comprehensive study to date of the causes and prevention of the major diseases affecting the health of older women. Over 15 years, the study’s findings on heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis have stimulated many changes in clinical practice. The WHI is also one of the largest studies of its kind ever undertaken in the United States and is considered a model for future studies of women’s health.

This study of low-fat dietary pattern is one of the three randomized clinical trials that make up the WHI. The others included trials of hormone therapy — estrogen plus progestin and estrogen alone. Both trials were stopped early, estrogen plus progestin in 2002 and estrogen alone in 2004 because of increased risk of diseases like stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. Results of a third clinical trial studying the effects of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation on osteoporosis-related bone fractures and on colorectal cancer will be published in February 2006.

Resources

For current recommendations on eating patterns for heart health, please see the new Your Guide to a Healthy Heart book available at this link.
For information on women and heart disease, see www.hearttruth.gov.
For information on weight loss, see Aim for a Healthy Weight, visit this link.
– For information on eating for general health, see this link.
– For more on the Women’s Health Initiative, see this link.

To interview a scientist about this study, contact the NHLBI Communications Office at (301) 496-4236.

WHI — a Legacy to Future Generations, a conference on the past, present, and future of WHI, including synthesis of findings generated from the WHI observational study and all four clinical trials — estrogen plus progestin, estrogen alone, dietary modification, and calcium/vitamin D — will be held February 28-March 1, 2006 on the NIH campus. For more information and a conference agenda, go to this site. For more information on the Women’s Health Initiative, see this link.

Legislation

Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Call to Action

As in early 2005, President Bush has eliminated the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from his proposed fiscal year 2007 budget. This means that all 100 North Carolina counties serviced by our 85 local health departments will lose the funding that supports the Statewide Health Promotion program. The Statewide Health Promotion program supports staff in all 85 health departments who conduct important work integrating multi-level healthy eating and physical activity interventions in their communities. The SHP community action plans address physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use, the top three causes of chronic disease and premature death in our state.

We are urging all partners to write letters to your respective Congressmen and women to educate them on the critical nature of the funding North Carolina receives from CDC through this Block Grant. Contact Sharon Nelson at Sharon.boss.nelson@ncmail.net or call her at 919-707-5220 for more information or to find out how you can help.

Grants/Awards

The 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Program Grants

The 3-A-Day of Dairy nutrition education program, to be implemented within the school environment, is designed to empower children ages 9-18 to be advocates of healthy eating by including three servings a day of milk, cheese or yogurt in their diets. Grants to be awarded to nutrition education programs encouraging children to become advocates of healthy eating and an active lifestyle

No more than two (2) grants in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded within the Southeast Dairy Association region. All applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2006. Winners will be notified on or around May 19, 2006.

2006 Application Materials can be downloaded at this site.

For more information, contact:
Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES
Southeast Dairy Association
1-800/251-4531
mmnordness@sudiainc.com

Foundations, Heart Association Offer Schools Help with Overweight, Obesity

Foundations, Heart Association Offer Schools Help with Overweight, Obesity: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, announced this week that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is providing an $8 million grant to support a new program aimed at helping schools address student overweight and obesity. Visit this link for details.

FDA Defines Food Term ‘Whole Grain’: Consumers who have been confused as to what, exactly, are the “whole grains” they are supposed to eat every day under the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans got some help yesterday from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which published a definition of “whole grain.” See this link for moreinformation.

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools.

Nancy Eichner, Senior Program Manager
202-466-3396 fax: 202-466-3467

Training and Professional Development

Nutrition and Physical Activity Teleconferences

Every month, the CDC Division of Nutrition & Physical Activity (DNPA) sponsors a monthly teleconference on a variety of topics, but mostly dealing with nutrition &/or physical activity. The calls are scheduled the 2nd Thursday of each month from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The next call will be held on March 9, 2006.The topic will be “Food Marketing to Children and Youth: the 2005 IOM Report” presented by J. Michael McGinnis, MD, MPP - Chair of Institute of Medicine Committee on
Food Marketing and the Diets of Children and Youth. Anyone who would like the handouts or participate in future calls please send an email to NC5ADAY@ncmail.net.

National 5 A Day Teleconferences

Each month, the National 5 A Day Partnership sponsors calls geared toward each State 5 a Day Coordinator. The calls are scheduled the first Tuesday of the month from 1:00 -2:30 p.m. Included below is the tentative schedule for the remainder of 2006.

March 7th
PBH‚Äôs Worksite Program
Elizabeth Kavanaugh
April 4th
Developing Cultural Competence, “What We Need to Know”
Carol Ann Brannon, MS,RD
May 2nd
Evaluation
Vincent Francisco, PhD
June 6th
My Pyramid.com
Jackie Haven
July
No Call
August 1st
PBH
Retail
September 5th
Advocacy
Tracy Fox
October 3rd
Evaluation ‚Äì Translating Research into Practice
TBA
November 7th
Strategic Thinking
TBA
December 5th
Council of 5 A Day Coordinators

If you are interested in possibly participating in the calls or receive the handouts, please send an email to nc5aday@ncmail.net.

The CDC Diabetes and Obesity Conference

May 16-19, 2006
Denver, Colorado

Going a Mile High Against Diabetes and Obesity: A Look to the Future, CDC‚Äôs Division of Diabetes Translation will convene its 29th Annual Diabetes Conference May 16‚Äì19, 2006, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO.

The collaboration between CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation and Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity will provide a forum to discuss issues concerning both diabetes and obesity.

The conference will bring together more than 800 participants from a wide range of local, state, federal, and territorial governmental agencies along with private-sector diabetes and obesity partners. See a preliminary agenda and registration information at this site by March 3, 2006.

CSHP By The Sea 2006

July 10 ‚Äì 13, 2006
Wilmington, NC

With a great agenda focused on Coordinated School Health and Personal Wellness on campus at UNC-W! Make plans NOW to join us ‚Äì participation will be limited to 250 people! Bring your team representing the eight areas of a
Coordinated School Health Program and hear national speakers as well as presenters from all parts of North Carolina.

In addition to keynote and breakout sessions, CSHP By The Sea will feature opportunities for you to experience best practices sessions, improve your own personal wellness, and participate in a variety of activities! School Health Advisory Councils will have the opportunity to apply for possible funding as well as submit the Healthy Active Children Progress Report.

For more information contact: Anne Marie Jenks, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Consultant, NC Healthy School, (919) 807-3909.

2006 National Health Promotion Conference

September 12 - 14, 2006
Atlanta, Georgia

The 2006 National Health Promotion Conference is the first joint conference presented by CDC’s Coordinating Center for Health Promotion (CoCHP) and its constituent groups: the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), and the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP). With a conference theme of Innovations in Health Promotion: New Avenues for Collaboration, the conference will provide an unprecedented opportunity to create new partnerships and strengthen existing ones to move forward with a national health promotion and wellness agenda. Visit this site for updates and more information.

Food Safety Education to be Focus of September 2006 Conference in Denver, CO

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and NSF International, a non-profit public health company, invite food safety education professionals to join them at a 3-day conference, Reaching At-Risk Audiences and Today’s Other Food Safety Challenges, in Denver, Colorado, September 27-29, 2006.The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for presenting and sharing projects through plenary, breakout, and poster sessions. Pre-conference workshops will be held on September 25 and 26; post-conference tours on September 29.Also sponsoring the conference: Food and Drug Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; USDA‚Äôs Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and NSF/WHO Collaborating Center for Food Safety.

The conference will be organized around five primary themes: