Food and nutrition

34 Pages·1992·4.1 MB·English

by  United States. Food and Nutrition Service

Historic, Archive Document
Do assume
not content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

DECEMBER 1992 VOLUME 22 NUMBERS 1-2
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hen America's cartoon They are designed to provide In this issue—and our next issue—
hero Popeye sings about sound advice that can help Americans of FOOD AND NUTRITION we high-
being "strong to the finish" enjoy better health and reduce their light some of the ways federal, state,
and attributes it to eating his spinach, chances of getting certain diseases. and local agencies are helping Ameri-
chances are he's not out to give kids For healthy Americans more than cans understand the important rela-
a nutrition lesson. 2 years old, the Dietary Guidelines tionship between diet and health.
But his words contain a valuable recommend: Our lead article in this issue focus-
message: what we eat affects how es on USDA's nutrition education
good we feel, how healthy we are, and • Eating a variety of foods. initiative, which places special
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how well we perform at school, at emphasis on reaching children and
home, at work, and at play. • Choosing a diet low in fat, saturat- low-income, low-literacy adults.
And it's a message that's not just ed fat, and cholesterol. We also look at help available from
for kids. the National Food Service Manage-
Of course, Popeye's only telling • Choosing a diet with plenty ment Institute (NFSMI), a national
part of the story. Spinach can help of vegetables, fruits, and grain resource center for people operating
him be strong and healthy, but he products. nutrition programs for children.
needs other foods, too. In fact, And, in a several-part article we
according to the U.S. Dietary Guide- • Using sugars, salt, and sodium only look at the Nutrition Education and
lines for Americans, eating a variety in moderation. Training Program (NET) in action. In
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of foods in appropriate amounts examples from around the country,
is the best way to get the energy, They also suggest that people who we see how states, schools, and
protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber drink alcoholic beverages do so in communities are tailoring NET pro-
we need for good health. moderation. jects to local needs and creatively
The Dietary Guidelines, published The guidelines, originally published bringing nutrition to life.
jointly by the U.S. Departments of by USDA and DHHS in 1990, have We also take a look at how a WIC
Agriculture (USDA) and Health and generated tremendous interest across agency in Wisconsin is tailoring
Human Services (DHHS), are based the country. So has "The Food Guide breastfeeding education to its clien-
on the best, most up-to-date advice Pyramid," a new graphic USDA re- tele. Here, as in our other examples,
from nutrition scientists and are the leased in April after extensive testing teamwork stretches resources and
basis of federal nutrition policy. of its effectiveness as a teaching tool. makes learning lively and fun.
Reaching out with information...
USDA has a wide range of re-
USDA Work sources available to plan and carry
Agencies out these activities. Many USDA
agencies are involved with food- and
nutrition-related research and moni-
On
Together Nutrition toring, and several provide the general
public with information on nutrition
and food safety.
Education USDA's food assistance programs,
Initiative
administered by the Food and Nutri-
tion Service (FNS) together with state
and local agencies, offer a unique
opportunity to provide education
"As the government leader in nu- en the school cafeteria's role as a alo—ng with food help:
trition education, USDA has a respon- learning laboratory for healthy eat- Millions of American children
sibility to provide Americans with the ing habits. Specific actions have participate in child nutrition programs
best possible advice on improving included increasing the variety of operating in schools, day care cen-
their diets and their health," Secretary commodities supplied to schools ters, family day care homes, summer
of Agriculture Edward R. Madigan and reducing the amount of fat, cam—ps, and residential institutions.
said, shortly after taking office in sodium, and sugar those foods In counties across the country,
March 1991. contain. The Department has also families and individuals turn to the
To fulfill that responsibility, he established national awards for Food Stamp Program to help them
made education for better nutrition superior school lunch programs. put food on the table during times of
one of the Department's four strategic illness, unemployment, or other
goals. Support at the top set in • Emphasized breastfeeding as fin—ancial hardship.
motion a range of activities that will the healthiest choice for infants And vulnerable groups, such as
affect the nutritional and health status through the WIC program's educa- pregnant and breastfeeding women,
of Americans for years into the future. tion and training activities and infants, and young children, get
Here are some of the milestones: administrative and regulatory special help through supplemental
practices. At the same time, the food programs.
USDA has... Department undertook a ground- FNS oversees 14 programs,
breaking cooperative effort with including the Food Distribution
• Established effective working public and private organizations to Program, which supplies federally
groups to develop a department- promote breastfeeding nationwide. purchased commodities to schools
wide nutrition education policy and and other child nutrition program
oversee its implementation. • Issued the Food Guide Pyramid sponsors, disaster relief efforts,
in April 1992 after intensive testing nutrition programs for the elderly,
• Adopted a nutrition education of its effectiveness as a teaching food banks and soup kitchens, and
initiative to enhance the Depart- tool and launched a comprehensive other community-based efforts to
ment's nutrition research, monitor- media campaign for the general help the needy.
ing, and education activities. An public as well as food program
initial budget increase of $20 participants. An idea whose
million launched the initiative and time has come
brought the Department's 1993 • Strengthened the nutrition educa- "Nutrition education is an idea
nutrition education budget to an tion partnership among USDA whose time has come," said Betty Jo
all-time high of $294.6 million. agencies, including funding an Nelsen, who served as FNS adminis-
Extension Service initiative to ex- trator until November 6 of this year.
• Begun active collaboration with the pand nutrition education for the "The food assistance programs do a
National Food Service Manage- neediest WIC mothers. very good job of providing people with
ment Institute, a federally support- food. But they need to do more than
ed university-based resource • Increased technical assistance, that. Program participants must
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center for child nutrition program with the goal of providing by the understand the relationship between
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operators. end of 1994 the tools and training diet and health and make healthy
school food program operators choices in the food they eat."
• Improved the nutritional quality of need to implement the Dietary The link between diet and health
school meals to enhance children's Guidelines for Americans. has been well documented and is
nutritional well-being and strength- important for Americans at all income
December 1992 3
levels to take seriously. Former A working group was subsequently
Surgeon General Koop identified established to oversee implementa-
dietary factors as playing a prominent tion of the recommendations that
role in 5 of the 10 leading causes of were adopted and to continue to unify
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death for Americans coronary heart and coordinate the Department's
disease, some forms of cancer, nutrition education activities. The
stroke, diabetes mellitus, and arte- Assistant Secretary for Food and
riosclerosis. Consumer Services and the Assistant
The 1988 "Surgeon General's Secretary for Science and Education
Report on Nutrition and Health" says were named to head the group.
these disorders account for more than Coordination has been central to
two-thirds of all deaths in the United the effort. "Our challenge," said
States and that diet can play an Nelsen, "is not only to provide the
important role in reducing the risk of best possible food and nutrition
such conditions. services, but to ensure that our efforts
Many of today's consumers are mesh effectively with the activities of
more sophisticated and knowledge- other agencies, within and outside
able than ever before. And nutrition the Department of Agriculture."
information to help them choose
healthy, well-balanced diets is more USDA
child nutrition programs provide nour-
plentiful than ever.
ishingfood to millions ofchildren in schools,
Witness the number of articles on child care centers,family day carehomes, sum-
food and fitness appearing in maga- mer recreationfacilities, and othersettings.
zines and newspapers, the brochures
and recipes free for the taking in many
supermarkets, and new "light" choic-
es available in school cafeterias,
restaurants, and on grocery store
shelves.
But for some people, habits can
be hard to change. And for others,
including people who don't read well
or speak English, information on
health and nutrition may not be easy
to understand, let alone use as a
basis for improving their own and their
families' diets.
At USDA, Secretary Madigan
directed several of the Department's
agencies to work together on a
comprehensive nutrition education
initiative.
The initiative, which grew out of
the work of a task force Secretary
Madigan set up shortly after coming
to USDA in 1991 , was designed to
respond to a two-fold challenge:
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One, to develop and promote
nutrition education efforts to improve
eating behavior.
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Two, to make sure messages
about nutrition and health are reach-
ing those who need them most:
young children and low-literacy,
low-income adults.
The nutrition education task force
was composed of representatives
from the eight USDA agencies that
share major food safety, research,
and monitoring responsibilities.
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Over the years, however, federal,
state, and local agencies have carried
out many successful nutrition educa-
tion activities in conjunction with or in
support of other FNS programs. Such
efforts can increase the effectiveness
of food aid. For example:
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Information can help low-income
families buy food wisely, handle
it
safely, and achieve a more nutritious
diet with their food stamps and/or
cash. can also help them make the
It
best use of food they receive from
other sources, such as private food
banks and government food distribu-
tion programs.
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Training for food service person-
nel can mean improved preparation
practices and healthier meals and
snacks for children at school and in
day care.
—
And nutrition activities in class-
rooms and lunchrooms can equip kids
with knowledge they need to start
making healthy food choices while
they are young.
Reaching out to food
stamp participants:
Previous research has shown that
President Bush's 1993 proposed "The task force has enhanced
budget, sent to Congress for approval cooperation among the different as a group, food stamp participants
earlier this year, called for increased USDA agencies involved in nutrition tend to make more nutritious food
purchases than do other low-income
support in this area. The proposal education. These closer working
shoppers who do not receive food
requested an overall $320.8 million for relationships are going to change the
USDA's nutrition education and way USDA agencies do business for stamps. Many, however, could ben-
research activities, an increase of years to come. We didn't get every efit from nutrition education that is
$46.7 million over the previous year. dollar we requested, but coordination sensitive to barriers of income, educa-
Of that total, $25 million was ear- can stretch our resources." tional level, and cultural preferences.
marked for the Secretary's nutrition FNS research is currently under-
education initiative. Food programs way to identify such barriers. Results
However, this request had to play important role will be used to develop nutrition ed-
compete in Congress for very limited Since the nutrition education ucation strategies based directly on
funds. The agriculture appropriations initiative places special emphasis on the needs and realities of food stamp
participants.
act signed on August 14 allotted a reaching adults with limited resources
total of $294.6 million for USDA and children, the Food and Nutrition "Our purpose," said Nelsen, "is
nutrition education and research Service's food assistance programs to develop nutrition education that
activities, which although less than play an important role. makes sense in terms of the way
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what was requested was still a $20- Only two FNS programs the people live."
million increase over 1992. Nutrition Education and Training (NET) As part of the nutrition education
"Given the tight fiscal times, we Program which serves all of the child initiative, FNS has expanded its
are pleased with our results," said nutrition programs, and the Special research on how to effectively reach
Nelsen. "This initial funding has Supplemental Food Program for food stamp participants with nutrition
allowed us to begin to move forward. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) education. The 1993 budget makes
Perhaps equally important are the have as part of their legislative man- $500,000 available for grants to dev-
elop and test ways to inform food
advantages derived from the planning date providing nutrition education
process itself. directly to food program participants.
5
5
stamp participants about nutrition, communities to provide nutrition projects ending in 1990 used a variety
resource management, and communi- education to low-income families in of approaches to improve breastfeed-
ty education programs. the families' homes. ing rates among WIC participants.
"The ultimate goal," said Nelsen, Work on breastfeeding promotion Among the successful practices were
"is to change purchasing and eating is well underway. Two years ago, staff training, using peer counselors,
behaviors." USDA organized a Breastfeeding and educating hospital staff.
"This money will support projects Promotion Consortium (BPC) com- In an article beginning on page 12,
that may serve as examples for states posed of more than 25 health profes- we look at how one WIC agency in
wanting to add a nutrition education sional, government, and public LaCrosse, Wisconsin, used some of
component to their Food Stamp health organizations. these techniques in tailoring breast-
Programs," she added. With the support of other BPC feeding education to the needs of
To encourage state food stamp organizations, USDA agreed to take its clientele.
agencies to provide nutrition educa- lead responsibility for developing a A demonstration project now in
tion, FNS reimburses them for 50 national campaign to promote breast- progress is looking at the effect of
percent of the cost. Currently, nutri- feeding. In August 1992, Congress using token gifts such as layettes and
tion education is an element in seven passed and the President signed a tee-shirts as incentives to interest
state plans. FNS support for state law that allows and encourages moms in starting and maintaining
agencies' nutrition education efforts private funding for the campaign. breastfeeding. The gifts are privately
exceeded $1 million in 1992. In addition, USDA has proposed donated.
a change in regulations that would Some states, in their ongoing
increase the kinds and amounts of efforts to increase breastfeeding, have
food in WIC packages for breastfeed- developed joint educational projects
ing women whose babies do not with EFNEP.
Enhancing WIC's nutrition
receive infant formula through WIC. The EFNEP-WIC partnership is one
education services: The purpose is to counter the percep- that works in many ways. Because
tion that bottlefeeding mothers re- the two programs frequently serve the
Nutrition education is an integral ceive more benefits because pack- same population, EFNEP families are
part of the services provided through ages for their infants include formula. routinely referred to WIC if they
the Special Supplemental Food Meanwhile, USDA has funded
Program for Women, Infants, and various state and local agency pro- These Virginia schoolfoodservice workers
Children, popularly known as WIC. jects to promote breastfeeding. For takepride in servingan attractiveassortment
WIC participants include pregnant example, a series of demonstration offreshfruits and vegetables.
and breastfeeding mothers, infants,
and young children who have been
found to be at nutritional risk because
of inadequate diet and low income.
Along with specially prescribed
supplemental foods, participants re-
ceive nutrition information and advice
at the health clinics where they are
certified for and receive WIC services.
Every participant is offered nutrition
education at least twice within each
6-month period.
In 1992, WIC spent nearly $1 1
million on providing nutrition educa-
tion to participants during their visits
to WIC clinics. Federal, state, and
local program managers actively
collaborate with other agencies and
outside groups to promote breast-
feeding as the healthiest choice
for babies.
WIC managers are also working to
strengthen nutrition education for the
neediest WIC participants, particularly
through a partnership with the Exten-
sion Service's Expanded Food and
Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP),
which trains nutrition aides in local
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1
appear to qualify for benefits. Similar- "We've been working hard to make As part of the nutrition education
ly, some WIC mothers who need school lunch the best meal and the initiative, Secretary Madigan set as a
additional coaching in nutrition are best deal around," said Nelsen. national goal having child nutrition
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referred to EFNEP. NSLP was born like the cusp of programs serve meals consistent with
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"We see nutrition education and the baby boom generation in 1946. the Dietary Guidelines. The Depart-
food assistance as being very impor- From the start, participating schools ment established a target date of
tant complementary services," said were required to follow a meal pattern 1994 for providing schools with the
Wells Willis, EFNEP's national pro- based on food groups. This pattern materials and information they need to
gram leader. "Nutrition education was designed to ensure children comply with these nutrition principles.
helps people use their resources would get a variety of foods that Ultimately, the actions of local
wisely, whether that means getting would yield, over a period of time, food service managers and staff
the most for their food stamps or approximately one-third of their in schools, child care centers, sum-
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money, or preparing tasty dishes Recommended Dietary Allowance mer camps, and other settings will
from bulk and raw products. (RDA) for key nutrients. determine how well the goal is met.
"Currently," she added, "for some Those standards have served re- There are many ways, however, USDA
91,000 WIC participants, EFNEP markably well. The National Evalua- is working to help.
provides intensive and personalized tion of School Nutrition Programs For example, in recent years USDA
lessons that fit their particular circum- (NESNP), a major study conducted in has improved commodities so they
stances. By working with a family the early 1980's, examined the nutri- are lower in fat, salt, and sugar. In
over a period of months, we can tional impact of school lunches. It addition, through demonstration
actually see behaviors change." found that students who ate school projects and other efforts FNS has
USDA's nutrition education initia- lunches got greater percentages explored ways to help schools make
tive called for expanding this WIC- of RDA's for calories and 9 of 1 appropriate changes.
EFNEP partnership. For this pur- nutrients studied than students For example, for 3 school years
pose, the 1993 budget provides an who did not. beginning in the fall of 1989, FNS
increase of $3.5 million. This money, It also identified areas that needed funded demonstration projects to test
in addition to redirected Extension improvement. For example, about ways in which schools can modify
Service funds, will allow EFNEP to 37 to 40 percent of the calories in their menus. Under these projects,
provide intensive nutrition education school lunch came from fat. five school districts made changes
to many more of the neediest WIC Undoubtedly, many lunches are that reduce the fat, sodium, and sugar
participants. too high in fat. A recent informal content of menu items but still give
Betty Jo Nelsen called this expand- study of 612 menus from elementary children foods they like. The results
ed effort a cornerstone of USDA's schools confirmed the popularity of are now being analyzed.
nutrition education initiative. "It's some relatively high-fat items. It also Efforts to help child nutrition
another way to strengthen the early found that children are offered a program sponsors have been
education that begins with WIC," limited variety of vegetables. enhanced by the additional support
she said. Currently, FNS is conducting the for these activities called for by the
"We hope mothers and children first major dietary assessment of nutrition education initiative.
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who pa—rticipate in WIC even if only school meals since the NESNP study. This spring, FNS published "Nutri-
briefly will form good eating habits By spring 1993, an up-to-date picture tion Guidance for the Child Nutrition
that will stay with them for years." of how well school meals are doing Programs", for use by food service
nutritionally should be available. workers and child care providers. By
However, there is more than early fall, almost half a million copies
enough information available in the were in circulation. This publication
meantime to support improvements contains nutrition information and
Helping the people
in nutritional quality. The 1990 Dietary helpful tips on offering healthy meals
who
serve children: Guidelines for Americans, issued that give children food they enjoy.
jointly by USDA and the Department In addition, FNS is reviewing the
The nutrition education initiative of Health and Human Services, offer adequacy of current meal patterns
also called for additional support for a blueprint for improving meals served and updating recipes and menu
training the frontline workers who plan through the child nutrition programs. planning guides. The 1993 budget
the menus, buy the food, and prepare Among other recommendations, includes $2 million to support these
and serve meals to children through the Guidelines call for a diet that is activities.
USDA's child nutrition programs. low in fat, saturated fat, and choles- Another important source of
The largest of these programs is terol. They suggest that fat should training is the USDA-sponsored
the National School Lunch Program provide no more than 30 percent of National Food Service Management
(NSLP). More than 90,000 schools the calories consumed by adults Institute (NFSMI), which began oper-
participate in the program and to- and children over the age of 2, and ations at the University of Mississippi
gether serve lunches to more than saturated fat, less than 10 percent. 2 years ago. As we'll see in the article
25 million children every school day. on page 10, this national institute was
December 1992 7
established to help food service After the presentation, panelists
managers and staff improve both the from USDA, the American School Supporting state and
quality of meals and the operation of Food Service Association, NFSMI,
child nutrition programs. and state school systems discussed local nutrition education
This spring, the institute began the topics raised and responded to projects:
the first in a series of teleconferences questions telephoned in.
that are being beamed by satellite to A second conference, in Septem- Since 1977, the Nutrition Education
more than 16,000 school food service ber, focused on issues relating to and Training Program (NET) has help-
operators at 800 sites throughout the purchasing that affect schools' ability ed build healthy eating habits by
nation. Secretary Madigan, the fea- to implement the Dietary Guidelines. teaching the fundamentals of nutrition
tured guest, promised to work every Future conferences will center on in schools and other settings to chil-
day for safe, affordable, and nutritious preparing and marketing nutritious dren, parents, educators, and food
food for America's 64 million children. meals, staffing, and participation. service operators.
The initial conference stressed The 1993 budget increases funding Because teamwork is central to
the need for teamwork among princi- for the institute from $1 .3 million to the NET program, this issue of FOOD
pals, parents, teachers, children, and nearly $1 .7 million. The facility is AND NUTRITION includes an exten-
school food service operators. It expected to be an increasingly valu- sive article highlighting state and local
demonstrated how to plan meals able source of consistent training and NET efforts. The article, which begins
consistent with the Dietary Guidelines. research-based information. on page 14, illustrates the wide range
"Toot
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In April, USDA unveiled a new elderly cutting across the economic, across the country, HNIS recently
graphic to help convey the good educational, and social spectrum. We reprinted the companion booklet
nutrition message to every audience. need to be sure any message we put called "The Food Guide Pyramid."
It's called The Food Guide Pyramid. out can be understood by everyone The booklet explains how Americans
The Pyramid is designed to help who participates in our programs." can use the Pyramid to help choose a
Americans understand what foods A campaign to promote the graphic well-balanced diet.
they need, from what food groups, was launched the same day it was It also explains that a healthfu—l diet
and in what amounts. It can help announced in a teleconference requires variety and moderation it's
them put into practice recommenda- broadcast to school food service important, for example, not to have
tions contained in the Dietary Guide- administators nationwide. too many calories, or too much fat,
lines for Americans, published jointly Educational packages were dis- saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, or
by USDA and the Department of tributed through USDA nutrition sodium.
Health and Human Services (DHHS). program directors and Cooperative For distribution to the general
The new graphic was tested Extension leaders across the country. public, HNIS is sending about 40,000
extensively with children and low- Information was also sent to schools, copies of the booklet to the Consumer
income and low-literacy adults. Of a consumer groups, and WIC clinics. Information Center in Pueblo, Color-
wide variety of designs tested, the USDA's Human Nutrition Informa- ado. Copies are available for $1 .00
Pyramid was found to most effectively tion Service (HNIS) is including the from the Center.
convey the three essential messages graphic in a lesson plan for health Other USDA agencies are ordering
of a healthy diet: variety, proportion, teachers and in publications for low- extra copies for their nutrition educa-
and moderation. literacy adults and olderAmericans. tion activities. For example, the
"We found that the new Pyramid "The Food Guide Pyramid is going Extension Service will be getting more
clearly defines the role different foods to be the core of our nutrition educa- than 350,000 copies. The Food and
play in a balanced diet and can be tion efforts for a long time to come," Nutrition Service (FNS) has ordered
readily understood by all Americans," Secretary Madigan said. "It will pro- 195,000 copies for distribution to
said USDA Secretary Madigan. bably wind up in every classroom schools and to state and local agen-
"USDA's food programs touch in the U.S." cies administering USDA food assis-
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everyone from children to the Because of widespread interest tance programs.