A Menu for Success: One Michigan School District's Path to Students' Personal Health and Wellness

Annette Fuhrman always used the word "tragic" when she spoke to friends and neighbors about overweight children. She thought the damage to an overweight child's health, child fittness, and self esteem was tragic. But most tragic perhaps was the apparent lack of concern about this epidemic from the general public.

Then one day in 2005, the Rochester Hills, Michigan resident was excited to learn that a new federal law concerning healthy food eating had been passed. It required school districts, with input from parents, to develop a local personal health and wellness student wellness policy by July 1, 2006.

Before she knew it, Fuhrman had joined five other dedicated moms just as passionate about promoting healthy weight in children. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work on a policy for Rochester Community Schools. Others got word and got involved. Pretty soon, everyone from the superintendent's office to the food service staff joined the cause.

Rochester's Wellness Committee was formed and began writing the school's policy. Soon, candy disappeared from school halls and cafeterias. Soda pop machines were shut down during school hours. More milk machines showed up.

Students joined "Milk Madness" contests and opted for "super sized" fruits and veggies at lunch. Parents noticed that students spent their money on too many high calorie ala carte foods instead of purchasing the healthier and less expensive national school lunch meals. Before long, all incoming sixth graders were attending an orientation titled, "Make the most of your lunch program: Choose well and save."

The Rochester Community Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the wellness policy by the summer 2006 deadline. The entire experience reinforced the powerful message that good nutrition and physical fitness promote students' health and academic success -- and that by working together, school communities can accomplish almost anything.

What Must School District Wellness Policies Include?

• Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities.
• Nutrition guidelines for all foods on the school campus.
• Assurance that reimbursable school meals meet the National School Lunch Program requirements.
• Participation by entire school community and the community at large.
• A school wellness policy evaluation plan.

How Can Parents Promote School Wellness?

• Check out what is being served for classroom snacks, rewards, parties, ala carte, and vending machines.
• Check out what daily physical activity and education opportunities are being offered.
• Review your district's local wellness policy.
• Become a champion for change.

How Can Parents Become Champions for Change?

• Learn more. Sign up for a free and fun workshop for parents by visiting Parent Action for Healthy Kids and click on "School Wellness" or contact Barb Flis at 248-538-7786.
• Build a network of parents who care about student wellness and spread the word.
• Join the school wellness committee.
• Join Michigan Action for Healthy Kids.
• Enroll your school in Team Nutrition.
• Share your healthy schools parent success story.

For more information about the Local Wellness Policy.

The publishing of this article is funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.