We proudly announce that UCSD Nutrition Services received a Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award for making improvements to the nutritional quality of our district’s school meals and implementing nutrition education activities that connect the cafeteria, classroom,  and home for students and parents/guardians.

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), UCSD received the Innovation in Nutrition Education Award for our work below.

Nutrition Education in the Classroom

Teachers across the district collaborated with Nutrition Services Director Jessy Sadler on classroom presentations about the benefits of nutritious eating and wellness strategies. These presentations were designed to educate and empower students on the importance of “eating a rainbow” and balancing not just our trays, but also our lifestyles with good hydration and physical activity to create a “BalancedU.” For more information on the types of presentations available, visit the Programs and Initiative tab on our website. 

Nutrition Education on the Serving Line

We recognize learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door and students continue to absorb information around them throughout the day. To reinforce the value of healthy eating and living, we incorporated educational elements onto our menus and serving lines through the use of custom designed branding to illustrate nutrient dense a la carte options, meal components (formerly “food groups”), local foods, and more. We are continuing to develop more ways to share information regarding healthful foods through our Food of the Month and Inspired By series which we look forward to sharing later this year. 

Nutrition Education in School Gardens

Students at Webster Elementary and Karen Acres Elementary work with their teachers and the Nutrition Department to operate school gardens. The ongoing work with both school gardens provides students an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning about sustainable practices, healthy eating, and the importance of local agriculture. By participating in gardens, students are more likely to try veggies they might not otherwise.

“We congratulate UCSD on this important achievement,” said Rob Bisceglie, Executive Officer & President for Action for Healthy Kids. “The HMI Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals,” he added.

AFHK is recognizing school districts to spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools have used to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – all as part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA FNS’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives at www.healthymealsincentives.org.

Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment and a proven tool for improving a child’s health, growth, development, and educational outcomes. AFHK and USDA are committed to working together to strengthen school meals and investment in a bright future for our children.

• Tweet