Published: November 07, 2009 11:23 pm      

Healthier choices for Miss. students

HATTIESBURG (AP) — South Mississippi school officials say their districts have played a vital part in the state’s efforts to stop selling fatty foods and beverages to students.

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those efforts have ranked Mississippi among the top 10 states selling healthier items in vending machines and school stores.

‘‘I’m pleased with the strides our state is making,’’ said Stephanie Hoze, executive director of child nutrition for Hattiesburg public schools. ‘‘There’s no doubt it’s taking a lot of work.’’

According to the CDC, the percentage of Mississippi’s middle and high schools not selling sodas or sugary fruit drinks increased from 22 percent in 2006 to 75 percent in 2008.

Also, the percentage of Mississippi schools not selling candy, chocolate bars and salty snacks, like potato chips, increased from 23 percent in 2006 to 72 percent in 2008.

‘‘It’s been challenging, but our students have adjusted well,’’ Hoze said. ‘‘They understand we’re trying to improve the health of themselves and their families.’’

The majority of the state’s success is attributed to the 2007 Mississippi Healthy Students Act, which outlines outlining health and wellness standards for public schools.

Under the law, schools had to create school health councils, write wellness plans and offer more fresh fruit and vegetable choices in cafeterias. Also, schools had to rid vending machines and school stores of unhealthy food and drink choices by last school year.

‘‘We could have phased in the changes, but we started immediately,’’ Hoze said. ‘‘We hoped what students became accustomed to eating in schools would carry over to their food choices at home. The sooner that started, the better.’’

Like Hattiesburg, other school districts have removed sodas and candy bars from vending machines and replaced them with water, 100 percent fruit juice and sports drinks like Gatorade. Vending machines with food items no longer exist on campuses.

Also, area school districts have stepped beyond the act’s requirements and stopped frying many popular foods, like chicken nuggets and french fries.

Now, many schools have replaced traditional fryers with combination oven steamers that steam or bake foods, bringing out natural flavors and eliminating fatty oils used in frying.

‘‘It’s been overwhelmingly accepted by our students,’’ said Becke Bounds, child nutrition director for Lamar County schools. ‘‘They really can’t even tell the difference.’’

Bounds said the steam ovens are in all but four of Lamar County’s schools, and she has received many compliments from students and teachers who didn’t know food was steamed rather than fried.

‘‘They knew the food was crispier and had more flavor,’’ she said. ‘‘But what they didn’t know is that it was also much healthier for them. Making them realize there are healthier options is what we’re all about.’’

For the past few years, area schools also have applied for federal fresh fruit and vegetable grants that provide dollars for additional servings of fruit and vegetables to students for one to two years.

This year, Forrest County School District was selected as one of the state’s 26 grant recipients. The grant now provides students at Earl Travillion Attendance Center additional fruit and veggie snacks after lunch up to five times per week.

‘‘We try to bring in exotic fruits like mango and star fruit,’’ said Kay Lawler, food service director for Forrest County schools. ‘‘It may take serving something new a few times before the children will even try it, but when they do, they usually love it.’’

Aside from nutritional awareness, Mississippi also beefed up its requirements for physical fitness, mandating students have 150 minutes of activity each week through physical education, recess or walking.

That change has led schools to compete for Project Fit America grants that are funded by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation and provide new playground equipment.

The colorful, state-of-the-art fitness equipment — including climbing poles, steps, blocks, monkey bars, parallel bars and weighted hula hoops — were most recently awarded to Oak Grove Lower and Purvis Lower elementary schools.

‘‘We’ve already seen a difference in the physical fitness of our fifth-graders who were fourth-graders last year,’’ said Debbie Dabbs, principal at Oak Grove Upper Elementary, who received the Project Fit America grant last year.

‘‘We calculate their body mass index and test their fitness twice per year. We’re trying to complete the full circle of nutrition and wellness for our students. The future and longevity of their lives depend on it.’’

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Information from: Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com