Inside This Issue...
Nutrition Education
MyPyramid for Kids Released
USDA Eat Smart Play Hard Gets a New Look
Food Stamp Cuts Hang in the Balance
PA NEN Member Initiatives
Department of Education Environmental Nutrition Strategies Grants
Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension Living Healthy Project
Get ReCharged with Action For Healthy Kids
Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA)
PA NEN Updates
At Issue…
Research Update
2006 NEP Plan
Committee Corner
Intergenerational Studies for Nutrition Education Workshop
Announcements
Nutrition Education
In September, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns released the new MyPyramid for Kids. Much like the adult version, MyPyramid for Kids is Web-based, providing nutrition and physical activity messages via the interactive game “Blast Off,” worksheets, tips and age appropriate lesson plans. The slogan for kids is “Eat Right. Exercise. Have Fun.” Messages are grounded in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and the Food Guidance System: “Be physically active every day”; “Choose healthier foods from each group”; “Eat more of some food groups than others”; “Eat foods from every food group every day”; “Make the right choices for you”; and “Take it one step at a time.”
To learn more about MyPyramid for Kids, visit the Web site at http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids.
Eat Smart, Play Hard Gets a New Look
The USDA Eat Smart, Play Hard campaign has redesigned its mascot, Power Panther, and given him a new sidekick, Slurp. Both market-tested characters target kids 6-12 years old. The new-look Power Panther is sleeker, while Slurp, Panther’s nephew, is just like the average kid: he tries to eat well, but sometimes makes mistakes. In addition to the new look, the campaign will expand its materials to include updated parent brochures, new activity sheets, interactive lesson plans for kids and parents, songs with activities, “Taste the Colors” for pre-K children, a kids’ Web page with interactive games and stories, a "Parent Place" Web page, and “Power Line,” six Web-based training presentations.
Check for updates at the Eat Smart, Play Hard Web site http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhard
Food Stamp Cuts Hang in the Balance
PA NEN Member Initiatives
Department of Education Environmental Nutrition Strategies Grants
Schools play an important role in influencing the dietary habits of children. To help schools promote nutritious food choices to students, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture have provided grant funds based on schools’ involvement in encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, promoting the consumption of healthy beverages, and introducing pricing strategies to encourage healthy food choices. Grants up to $6000 per school are available. Project activities start in schools at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year.
Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension Living Healthy Project
The Westmoreland County Living Healthy project is a nutrition education program that provides education to limited income seniors and teen nutrition curriculum to area schools. Since the 2000-2001 program year, the Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension program has had many opportunities to implement its project and impact the community. From its early initiatives providing nutrition education sessions to food stamp–eligible seniors (including its work with food pantry programs and developing monthly newsletters), to its recent involvement with school programs, the Living Healthy project has delivered excellent service and education. The project enters the 2006 program year expecting to grow further and achieve even higher goals.
Get ReCharged with Action For Healthy Kids
Pennsylvania Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is energizing after-school programs throughout the state with its new national initiative, ReCharge!™, an after-school program toolkit developed by the national AFHK and the National Football League (NFL). The program’s 6-week curriculum features key components such as healthy eating, physical activity, goal setting, and team building. Geared toward third through sixth graders, ReCharge! promotes the energy-in and energy-out concept. Students learn how to make nutritious choices throughout the day as the program incorporates skill-building and healthy practices into their lives. Highlighting team-building skills, ReCharge! also encourages activities for athletes and non-athletes alike. Programs participating in USDA’s After-School Snack Program are the target audience for the toolkit.
Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA)
PANA’s Keystone Healthy Zone Schools program is a free, annual program that provides schools with resources, materials, training, support, events, and funding to make sustainable improvements to offer healthier food and more physical activity. In spring 2005, 1,133 schools enrolled in the program (representing 64 percent of the state’s school districts). PANA and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources partnered to develop the Keystone Active Zone Program which debuts to the public in the spring of 2006. It helps counties promote close-to-home parks and recreation with a website and passport incentive program designed to link with schools, workplaces and other community organizations (http://www.keystoneactivezone.com). PANA also partnered with the PA Department of Health and the state’s health care community to develop a communications kit to help school nurses and health care providers communicate consistently with parents about the new growth screening requirements in schools.
For more information, visit www.panaonline.org.
At Issue...InGENEious Nutrition Education
Although my practice area focuses on nutrition education, especially nutrition behavior, my academic background began with chemistry and biology and I often read articles focused on biochemistry or genetics, just for a change of pace from education references. However, the scientific readings lately have included research that narrows the gap between nutrition science and nutrition behavior. The not-so-long-term outcomes may have implications for nutrition education. Here are two examples:
Barbara Lohse, Ph.D., R.D.,
Principal Investigator
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead
The Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network (PA NEN) research committee is excited to see the formation of an ongoing research column in the newsletter. Certainly a goal of the PA NEN is to foster collaborations for research, as well as introduce ways in which researchers and those implementing nutrition programs can work with one another. Over time the research committee hopes that it can help foster these relationships and broaden the research opportunities available to network members. In an effort to begin the conversation about collaboration, we would like to introduce the committee, and their research interests.
PA Nutrition Education Program Approved
On September 20, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Program (PA NEP) for the new federal fiscal year. This qualifies the PA NEP to receive $15.2 million in federal funds to match an equal level of state funds. All funds are used to provide science-based nutrition education to food stamp eligible households. Fifteen local organizations are included in the 2006 plan, working in a total of thirty-six counties. The PA NEP is administered by Penn State under a contract with the PA Department of Public Welfare. Dr. Barbara Lohse of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State is the principle investigator.
The PA NEN Conference committee is busy planning for the annual conference that will be held May 22-23, 2005. The program features networking opportunities and skill-building sessions, as well as reports on emerging issues related to food policy and nutrition. Three program tracks are proposed for the concurrent sessions to be held on the 22 and 23: Legislative/Policy, Nutrition Education, and Emerging Issues. This year, the conference will offer a one-day registration option and a student rate. Please encourage all staff who work in nutrition programs to attend, as well as any individuals or organizations with an interest in nutrition advocacy and policy making.
Intergenerational Strategies for Nutrition Education
On September 19, Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network (PA NEN) members came together for an interactive workshop, Intergenerational Strategies for Nutrition Education. Attended by over thirty nutrition education leaders from all corners of the state, this free workshop highlighted strategies for nutrition educators to work with entire families and facilitate intergenerational communication and cooperation when developing/delivering nutrition education outreach programs. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Matt Kaplan, Dr. Nancy Ellen Kiernan, and Lynn James M.S., R.D., L.D.N. The Team presented its findings from a recent research project, entitled "An Intergenerational Focus Group Study of Family Conversations and Decision-Making about Food and Eating Healthfully." The study emphasized factors that both help and hinder healthy eating discussions and practices in families.
PA NEP Program Manager
Congatulations to Paula Shipman, R.D., C.S.R., L.D.N., the new program manager for the PA NEP! Paula’s experience includes fifteen years as a renal dietitian at Geisinger Medical Center where she worked with infants, children, and adults who had kidney disease. Responsibilities also included implementing quality improvement processes in nutrition care and supervising dietetic interns. Recently, she served as a community nutritionist in underdeveloped areas of Guatemala. Paula is not new to PA NEP; she has been the evaluator associate and nutritionist since March 1, 2005.
Strengthening the Food Resource Safety Net
Mark your calendars for the PA NEN's annual conference to be held May 22-23, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrisburg, PA.
It’s the Tenth Anniversary of the PA NEN!
Join in the year-long celebration of the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network’s tenth anniversary! Stay tuned for details on upcoming events.