Testimony of

Judith L. Dodd, MS,RD
Nutrition Education Consultant
Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Dietetics/Nutrition
University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

on School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
       for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

March 4, 1997

Good Morning Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. I am Judy Dodd, a registered dietitian and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dietetics/Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. Although I am a member and past president of the American Dietetic Association and a member the American School Food Service Association, my testimony is as a community based dietitian and nutrition educator.

It is a privilege to be asked to testify. In addition, I am grateful for the opportunity to thank Senator Lugar and this committee for past and present support shown for child nutrition programs.

For over twenty years I have worked as a consultant to and a supporter of child nutrition programs. My interactions have been with children, food service staff, and caregivers of children including both parents and teachers. It is this prospective, that of a nutrition professional working inside yet outside of school-based nutrition services, that has shaped this testimony. I will be sharing trends, observations, and concerns on the future of nutrition programs for children and the nutrition status of this vulnerable population group.

There is no doubt that school meals are a critical component in the health and well-being of our nation's children. Studies continue to confirm that children who participate in meals at school are more likely to meet their needs for key nutrients. The importance of breakfast to preparing a child for learning continues to be documented. However, studies indicate that on any given day at least sixty percent leave the house without breakfast. Research is beginning to document what food and nutrition professionals and educators have noted for years, it is more difficult to teach a hungry child.

Offering nutritious meals at school is an investment in the health and learning potential of children. The food provides children with critical nutrients. The choice of foods, the presentation, and the accompanying education serve as learning experiences as children learn to recognize and taste a variety of foods. Although children who live in poverty have the greatest need, nutrition related problems are apparent at all income levels. At a time when all expenditures in government-supported programs are being scrutinized, it important to examine current needs and support programs that contribute to our children's present and future. I offer these thoughts:

Meals At School As a Safety Net

There is a need to offer children the safety net of nutritionally balanced meals. Children are taking more responsibility for their own food choices and those of their younger siblings yet may have less opportunity to practice healthful eating.
      Studies indicate that one-third to over half of all children have responsibility for their own food choices at breakfast and lunch. (International Food Information Council)
      The 1994 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Study indicated that on any given day two-thirds of school-aged children (age six through nineteen) consume one-fourth to one-third of their total calories outside of their home. Fast food and the school cafeteria are leading choices.       There is less opportunity for the traditional model of learning to prepare food and to expand food choices in the home from a full-time adult role model. This leaves children with the option of self-learning.
      Along with providing critical nutrients, goals of school meals include providing a model for balanced eating (balance), a standard for recognizing reasonable portion sizes (moderation), and an opportunity to try new foods (variety). Meals at school can be a teaching tool for a healthy lifestyle.

Supporting a Realistic Fit of Nutrition and Education

This leads to my second point and a number of concerns. There must be a comfortable and realistic fit of nutrition and education if we are to achieve the goals of providing nutritious meals at school.       Although studies support a downward trend in the percentage of calories from fat in the reported diets of children there is a documented increase in childhood obesity. Between 1988 and 1991 obesity rates have more than doubled among children between ages six and seventeen. (National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, NHANES III). According to the Bogalusa Heart Study and NHANES, children are eating less fat then they did twenty years ago.
     Total calories consumed by children may be increasing, thus accounting for the lower percentage of total calories from fat. (NHANES III)
      At the same time activity level has dropped in children. A 1996 Surgeon General Report noted that twenty-five percent of all young people (ages twelve to twenty-one) report no vigorous daily exercise. Safety in neighborhoods and lack of adult supervision after school may force a child to spend what used to be active playtime to inactivity in front of a video game, computer or television. Complicating the picture is the current trend away from physical activity in some schools and the elimination of recess.
      On the other end of the spectrum, children are being pulled into the "fear of fat" subculture that is part of adult thinking. For example, in a study of nine to eleven year old girls, half of the nine year olds and eighty percent of the older children stated they were dieting to lose weight.(Ikeda and Naworski) Children as young as six are in treatment for obsessions with dieting and weight.

The calorie needs of children must be examined in light of current activity levels. Applying current standards such as The Dietary Guidelines for Americans to meals is a positive step but should presented as guidelines, not absolutes. The availability of meals that not only meet a child's needs but also model a pattern for a healthy lifestyle is the first step. Other factors include providing adequate time to participate in these meals, classroom support to try new foods, and an opportunity to build an appreciation for lifetime sports.

Meals at school can be the center of a health-friendly environment for children. But there must be an effort to provide appealing meals and to encourage children to participate. Children have ready-access to low nutrient dense, high-fat foods. Encouraging children to try new foods or to select healthful foods requires more than putting these foods on a menu. Children are unlikely to try a new food without the support of marketing and education.

Qualified and knowledgeable school food service directors and staff who can focus on child nutrition are imperative. School food service is under constant pressure to meet demands of children, adults, administrators and regulations. Not losing money can be the driving force regardless of the commitment to nutrition. Learning to eat requires resources just like learning to read.

This is a time for partnerships. Parents, teachers, all caregivers have a responsibility to support the goals of meals at school. Studies indicate that children introduced to new foods in the classroom are more receptive to trying new foods in the cafeteria.

Nutrition education as a component of school meals is not a new concept. The Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET) has shown successes in spite of limited funding. If we are to continue to provide tax dollars for meals at school, I believe it is critical that we support nutrition centers not feeding stations.

The School Lunch Program was established to meet identified nutrition needs of our nation's children. Today's needs are different but just as critical. Providing nutritious meals is an investment in a child's ability to reach his or her potential. Combining that food with education provides support for building healthy lifestyles for a population.

Thank you.