School Nutrition Programs:
Current Grant

Bring on the HEATT (Healthy Eating and Activity Teams and Tactics)

Increasingly West Virginia schools, families, and communities recognize their shared responsibility to teach and model healthy eating and physical activity. Bring on the HEATT involves selected counties and schools in creating environments that reflect school-wide nutrition standards and meet students’ needs for physical activity.

HEATT (Healthy Eating and Activity Teams and Tactics) employs four major strategies to enhance opportunities for students to learn and practice healthy eating and physical activity choices. They are: (1) train and support for multidisciplinary teams, including foodservice staff; (2) conduct school based learning activities to empower students to make healthy choices; (3) design, distribute and assess a parent/school newsletter; and (4) develop and distribute to all elementary and middle schools a resource featuring school parties which exemplify a healthy nutrition environment. All training, school activities and communication follow the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and Team Nutrition Messages, as incorporated into the current West Virginia Board of Education policy, Standards for School Nutrition.

Eleven counties including one high school, one middle school and one elementary school from each of the eleven counties will participate in the pilot. Project grants of $4,980.00 will be awarded to each school to support training and implementation of school activities. Project activities will be led by trained ten-member local teams consisting of the county nutrition program director, and from each school, a school foodservice employee, educator and parent. Team training workshops, including a college class and practicum for foodservice participants, will be delivered by Piedmont Community and Technical College and the State Agency.

Participating schools will implement school-wide initiatives that actively involve learners in fun, behavior-focused activities. These activities will address the following school environment areas: (1) school parties, (2) food vending and other competitive food sales, (3) fundraising, (4) meal promotion and (5) physical activity.

A parent/school newsletter sharing best practices for home and school will be developed for distribution in pilot counties. Newsletters will address the five Team Nutrition messages, provide information regarding state standards for school meals and snacks and contain practical innovative approaches to modeling and practicing healthy eating and physical activity at school and home. The newsletter will be assessed for potential statewide distribution.

As a sequel to West Virginia’s popular 1993 Let’s Party, a publication will be developed which reflects newly adopted state nutrition policies and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In addition to party ideas, the publication will offer a practical guide to parents and school staffs for evaluating foods that may be sold, brought to school or served as snacks.

Successes

Bring on the HEATT Schools are choosing innovative ideas to achieve the goals of the grant. Here are some of the activities:
  • Canning Green Beans and Salsa
  • Basket Ball Food Poll during the National Basket Ball Playoffs
  • To raise funds to build a walking track around a new school, the parents, school staff and community came together for a Spaghetti dinner, auction and dance. The bulldozing and gravel were donated for the track
  • Another school had an after School Dance Dance Revolution, WII tennis & Bowling Contests to help raise awareness of the need for healthy activities for the body
  • Several schools are developing walking tracks around their schools
  • Every Day a wellness tip of the day is announcement over the intercom in some schools.
  • Every day menu selections are seen on the Message Board
  • Schools in the Team Nutrition Project participated in the National School Breakfast Week
  • Many schools have beautiful salad and fruit bars for all students/staff every day
  • Community people as well as parents and school staff supporting afternoon events
  • One school had three days of field events which included snacks of bananas, trail mix and water
  • A Puppet show was written and presented by a college student working toward a degree in Puppeteer Profession. Two sessions were presented to the students and staff of an elementary school. The Topic was Healthy Choices Fruits/Vegetables
Click Here for a Map of Participants