Oskaloosa Celebrates Healthy School Lunches and Lifestyles
Oskaloosa Indians
National School Lunch Week Aims to Get Kids Excited About Healthy Foods and Physical Exercise
Oskaloosa, Iowa -September 30, 2014 – To recognize the National School Lunch Program and the 30 million children it serves every day, Oskaloosa schools will recognize National School Lunch Week from October 13-17, 2014. The theme, “Get in the Game with School Lunch” will feature events and activities that promote the importance of balancing healthy eating with physical activity and exercise.
National School Lunch Week will emphasize the healthy foods that are offered daily at Oskaloosa schools. Celebrity Servers will be at each school daily that week to interact with the students. These Celebrity Servers include, but are not limited to, the following groups: Oskaloosa City Council Members, Oskaloosa School Board Members, OHS Storybook Players, William Penn University Football Team, and the Blue Zones Team, just to name a few!
“School lunches are healthier than ever, with more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and less fat and sodium” said Julie Miller, Director of Nutrition and Food Service. “National School Lunch Week is the perfect time to celebrate all of the healthy options we’re serving every day in Oskaloosa schools”.
All school meals in Oskaloosa meet the USDA’s guidelines for healthy, nutritious meals. All schools offer breakfast and lunch daily. Students can select a hot or a cold option for breakfast, milk, juice, and fruit. During lunch, OES students have one entrée, OMS students have two entrees, and OHS students have three entrees to choose from. OMS students also have a vegetable and a fruit option, as well as a salad bar and fruit cart to select from to complete their meals. OHS students have at least two vegetable options, several fruit options, a salad bar, and a fruit cart as well. Variety is the key to healthy eating!
The federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to students every day. The program, which has been serving the nation’s children for over 60 years, requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards like offering fruits and vegetables every day, serving whole-grain rich foods, and limiting fat, calories, and sodium.
The “Get in the Game with School Lunch” campaign is sponsored by the non-profit School Nutrition Association and Chobani Greek Yogurt. For more information about schools meals, visit www.oskaloosa.k12.ia.us.
