Success Story: Henderson County: Meeting a Higher Standard
Henderson County has its priorities in line. It is one thing to claim that academic performance is strongest when students are healthiest, but it’s an entirely different thing to act on it. The Henderson County school system has prioritized the health of its students by going above and beyond the required nutrition standards for school cafeterias. In the spring of 2005, the Henderson County Child Nutrition Department introduced its cafeterias to a higher set of standards– those of Eat Smart: North Carolina’s Recommended Standards for All Foods Available in School.
Twelve Henderson County elementary school cafeterias implemented the Eat Smart Standards through a pilot program. They implemented the new standards gradually, so as not to shock the system -- a strategy that worked well, according to Henderson County Child Nutrition Director, Christina Dodd.
What does a Henderson County elementary school lunch look like now? Reduced fat milk replaces higher fat milk, and whole-wheat rolls replace white bread. Yogurt, fruit bars, and baked chips replace ice cream and unhealthy snack cakes. Programs like the Fruit and Vegetable Sleuth Project make it fun to eat healthy. If students eat 75 percent of their fruits and vegetables, they receive a prize!
“Trends and lifestyles change, but the health of our nation’s children is the main concern of every Child Nutrition employee and school educator.”
Christina Dodd, Henderson County Child Nutrition Director
The Road to Success
The willingness of Dodd and her Child Nutrition staff to implement the Eat Smart Standards comes as no surprise, considering their strong history of promoting good nutrition. Since August 2004, no fried foods have been served in Henderson County elementary schools. And since the 2004-2005 school year, cafeteria staff members have used the Winner’s Circle logo to market healthier items to students. Additionally, all Henderson County elementary schools participate in a fruit and vegetable co-op program through which they receive kiwi, mandarin oranges, cabbages and more. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that these schools do not only provide good nutrition; they teach it as well, using the Food for Thought curriculum.
Communication played an important role in the success of the Eat Smart Standards in Henderson County. Meetings, radio, and TV coverage were used to give students and families advance notice of the coming changes in elementary school cafeterias. Students were involved through taste tests and cafeteria staff members continue to talk with students about the benefits of the healthier new food choices.
Teachers, principals, and the Superintendent have been supportive of Dodd and her staff. The Child Nutrition Department estimates that 90 percent -- an overwhelming majority -- of the staff is happy with the change. Furthermore, some parents have even expressed appreciation to the Child Nutrition staff because their children are eating broccoli!
The process of implementing the Eat Smart Standards has not been free of challenges. The requirement of at least one fresh fruit or vegetable per day has translated to higher costs for the Child Nutrition Department. Furthermore, some foods must be cooked from scratch because they are not yet available from food vendors. According to Dodd, it is hard to tally the actual financial cost of the transition, due to external factors that also affected Child Nutrition revenue. However, the Henderson County Child Nutrition Department lost around $10,000 during the transition months, a portion of which resulted from the implementation of the Eat Smart Standards.
The story does not end here, though. The challenges of the Eat Smart Standards were accompanied by much success. Evidence of this success is the fact that feedback on all sides has led to the continuation of the Eat Smart Standards, even though the pilot has ended. The Board of Education feels that it is in the best interest of the students to keep the Eat Smart Standards in place without worry over revenue.
“Trends and lifestyles change, but the health of our nation’s children is the main concern of every Child Nutrition employee and school educator,” says Dodd.
Stepping Stones...
- It is important to have a commitment to promoting good nutrition in schools.
- Communication is an essential component of success
- The Eat Smart Standards have succeeded in Henderson County in largely because of a decision to prioritize student health and the persistence to stick with it.
Contact Information
Name, Title: Christina Dodd, Henderson County Child Nutrition Director
Address: 414 Fourth Avenue West
City, State, Zip: Hendersonville, NC 28739-4261
Phone: 828-697-4994
Fax: 828-697-4738 FAX
Email: cdodd@henderson.k12.nc.us
