Fall 2002 - Volume 1

• Welcome to the NuNews™ publication
• Nutrition news you can use, in an easily shareable format
• Getting the message across: make facts meaningful for parents
• Getting kids in on the act, too
• The Smart Nutrition Partner: Schwan's presents SmartPizza™ brand products by Tony's®
• Downloadable Parents' Newsletter

Welcome to the first issue of the NuNews™ publication, the news-alert e-letter for school foodservice directors. NuNews™ was created by Schwan's Food Service to help you meet the various challenges of providing optimal nutrition in your schools. It will also position you as a resource to parents in your district.

One of our goals is to help you act as a positive source of information and ideas for parents. Because children's nutrition or weight status can be a sensitive subject, this is an area that needs to be handled with delicacy. Recently, some schools on the East Coast experienced a backlash from parents when they raised the possibility that their kids might be overweight (1). To avoid a similar situation, we'll be bringing you useful information that can be presented and used in a non-confrontational manner. When parents realize you're acting as a helpful resource rather than as a critic, they'll welcome your interest in their children's health.

Your involvement in child nutrition is more important than ever. Recently, the Surgeon General announced that more of the nation's children are overweight than ever before (2). In the same report, it was noted that the rate of obesity in children has been increasing over the last 20 years. The figure has doubled for children and nearly tripled for adolescents, with 13% of kids aged 6-11 and 14% aged 12-19 now considered overweight.

This puts the country on the verge of a public health crisis. Obesity is a dangerous condition for anyone, and it's especially risky for children, as it can lead to a number of serious health problems (3). The Surgeon General, in the same report, has issued an urgent request for parents and school officials to work together to provide proper nutrition and exercise programs for children. Therefore, it's imperative to educate kids about nutrition, motivate them to eat properly, and incorporate exercise into their daily activities-steps that can help them lead healthier lives.

Sources: Click Here