Cafeteria Improvement Motion

1. Cafeteria Improvement Motion Board President Marlene Canter AUGMENTED SCHOOL SAFETY, STUDENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE December 8, 2005 Good morning colleagues and members of the audience. I am excited to talk to you briefly about the Cafeteria Improvement Motion that Ms. Korenstein and Mr. Tokofsky have co-sponsored with me.Good morning colleagues and members of the audience. I am excited to talk to you briefly about the Cafeteria Improvement Motion that Ms. Korenstein and Mr. Tokofsky have co-sponsored with me.

2. Purpose of School Meals Program Begun in 1946 the Federal School Meals Program seeks to reduce food insecurity and hunger among low income children 77% of LAUSD students qualify for free or reduced lunch These same students who are most at risk for hunger are at great risk of obesity since their neighborhoods often lack safe spaces to play and access to fresh, healthy food. This makes it that much more important that we ensure the food we provide at school is healthy � meaning it is nutrient dense and meets USDA guidelines The national school lunch program was created in 1946 to address hunger among low income children. More than 75% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch. These same students who are most at risk of hunger are also at increased risk of obesity since their neighborhoods often lack access to safe spaces to exercise and fresh, healthy food. Many of our students eat 2 meals a day at school making it critically important that it be a healthy meal.The national school lunch program was created in 1946 to address hunger among low income children. More than 75% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch. These same students who are most at risk of hunger are also at increased risk of obesity since their neighborhoods often lack access to safe spaces to exercise and fresh, healthy food. Many of our students eat 2 meals a day at school making it critically important that it be a healthy meal.

3. Cafeteria Improvement Motion Goals Improve Nutrient Intake Give students nutritional content of entrees so they can make informed choices Demand healthier fare from vendors The goal of the Cafeteria Improvement Motion is really to increase student participation, to get more kids eating in the cafeteria and to make sure that we�re serving them the healthiest food and giving them the information they need to make good choices.The goal of the Cafeteria Improvement Motion is really to increase student participation, to get more kids eating in the cafeteria and to make sure that we�re serving them the healthiest food and giving them the information they need to make good choices.

4. Increasing Participation PROGRESS - Food Services increased secondary student participation in the school lunch program from 17% to 42% MORE ACTION NEEDED � Still, 58% of secondary students choose not to eat a reimbursable lunch�breakfast participation is even lower ACTION: Establish goals and develop a plan to reach non-participating students Food Services, under the leadership of Marilynn Wells, is to be commended for dramatically increasing student participation in the School Meals Program. Nonetheless there are still 58% of our secondary students who choose NOT to eat lunch in the cafeteria. This motion calls for the establishment of clear goals to increase participation and a plan to get there. Food Services, under the leadership of Marilynn Wells, is to be commended for dramatically increasing student participation in the School Meals Program. Nonetheless there are still 58% of our secondary students who choose NOT to eat lunch in the cafeteria. This motion calls for the establishment of clear goals to increase participation and a plan to get there.

5. Student Surveys Identify Reasons for Non-Participation: Overcrowding Lack of Variety Food Safety Chief among the reasons that students identify for not eating in the cafeteria are overcrowding � particularly the long lines; the lack of variety � the healthiest items are gone within minutes and it�s nothing but pizza from there on out; and food safety � the food is either frozen, burnt, expired or moldy. Chief among the reasons that students identify for not eating in the cafeteria are overcrowding � particularly the long lines; the lack of variety � the healthiest items are gone within minutes and it�s nothing but pizza from there on out; and food safety � the food is either frozen, burnt, expired or moldy.

6. Cafeteria Improvement Motion Boosts Participation ACTIONS: Serve lunch at lunchtime Work towards additional lunch periods Identify food safety problems and fixes Facilities upgrades Customer service expectations for staff Seek input on preparation techniques The Cafeteria Improvement Motion seeks to address non-participation by serving lunch at an appropriate time (preferably between 11am and 1pm), establishing a working group to figure out how to move to multiple lunch periods � our huge secondary campus cafeterias that were designed to accommodate 1,500 cannot accommodate 3,000 students in 30 minutes. It also demands that we upgrade the cafeteria facilities at our schools so they�re inviting and appealing areas that can accommodate the entire student population. The motion calls for a presentation on what the current food safety and quality assurance systems are and for change where needed. It also calls for the posting of customer service expectations so that kids know their secondary school should be serving 15 options for instance. Lastly, the motion has us seeking input from students and their families and from successful restaurants and chefs to improve the food we serve.The Cafeteria Improvement Motion seeks to address non-participation by serving lunch at an appropriate time (preferably between 11am and 1pm), establishing a working group to figure out how to move to multiple lunch periods � our huge secondary campus cafeterias that were designed to accommodate 1,500 cannot accommodate 3,000 students in 30 minutes. It also demands that we upgrade the cafeteria facilities at our schools so they�re inviting and appealing areas that can accommodate the entire student population. The motion calls for a presentation on what the current food safety and quality assurance systems are and for change where needed. It also calls for the posting of customer service expectations so that kids know their secondary school should be serving 15 options for instance. Lastly, the motion has us seeking input from students and their families and from successful restaurants and chefs to improve the food we serve.

7. Hunger and Obesity: A Dangerous Paradox 3.1 million LA County residents live in households with someone struggling to put enough food on the table (according to UCLA Center for Health Policy Research) 36% of LAUSD 7th graders are overweight, according to California Department of Education Overweight children are also food insecure. They are consuming the wrong foods: energy-dense, instead of nutrient-dense Schools Meals are an important response to hunger and to overweight; providing essential nutrition for learning, and teaching long-term habits Much of the resistance to the cafeteria improvement motion stems from a concern that the school meals program was created to address hunger and that altering the type of food we serve could drive down participation � increasing hunger in the process. While it may seem ironic � the very students who are most at risk of hunger are also at increased risk of obesity because there�s inequity of access to fresh and healthy food and to safe spaces to play across the city. There are many areas where fast food and convenience stores proliferate and where the parks and streets are not safe spaces to be. We know that obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Since more than 75% of our students qualify for free and reduced meals at school and we know that our students may not have access to healthy food in their neighborhood it�s incumbent upon us to serve the healthiest food we can without negatively impacting participation.Much of the resistance to the cafeteria improvement motion stems from a concern that the school meals program was created to address hunger and that altering the type of food we serve could drive down participation � increasing hunger in the process. While it may seem ironic � the very students who are most at risk of hunger are also at increased risk of obesity because there�s inequity of access to fresh and healthy food and to safe spaces to play across the city. There are many areas where fast food and convenience stores proliferate and where the parks and streets are not safe spaces to be. We know that obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Since more than 75% of our students qualify for free and reduced meals at school and we know that our students may not have access to healthy food in their neighborhood it�s incumbent upon us to serve the healthiest food we can without negatively impacting participation.

8. LAUSD � A National Leader in Obesity Prevention Policy 2002 Healthy Beverage Motion 2003 Obesity Prevention Motion Snack Standards Fruit and Vegetable Focus Salad Bars Cafeteria Plans to Increase Consumption of F&V �Second Chance� Breakfast Physical Education Nutrition Education 2005 Cafeteria Improvement Motion LAUSD is a national leader in the effort to curb childhood obesity. Our healthy beverage motion and obesity prevention motion recently became state law with the passage of SB965 and SB12 and the centralized healthy beverage contract is serving as a model for how to address the revenue side. The Cafeteria Improvement Motion is the logical next step � our students and principals have contacted me since the passing of the first two motions expressing grave concern about the nutritional quality of the food we serve in the cafeteria. The time for change is now.LAUSD is a national leader in the effort to curb childhood obesity. Our healthy beverage motion and obesity prevention motion recently became state law with the passage of SB965 and SB12 and the centralized healthy beverage contract is serving as a model for how to address the revenue side. The Cafeteria Improvement Motion is the logical next step � our students and principals have contacted me since the passing of the first two motions expressing grave concern about the nutritional quality of the food we serve in the cafeteria. The time for change is now.

9. Students� Diets Every day two-thirds of California adolescents drink soda, and nearly half �more than 1.5 million in all�eat fast food. By contrast, only a quarter or 800,000 in all�eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day Visit any secondary school cafeteria and you will see that students� trays are filled with pepperoni pizza, nachos and cheeseburgers � every meal We know that adolescents in general are not getting the nutrients they need. Every day 66% of California teens drink soda, 48% eat fast food while only 25% are getting the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables. We are compounding the problem with the food we�re serving in the cafeteria.We know that adolescents in general are not getting the nutrients they need. Every day 66% of California teens drink soda, 48% eat fast food while only 25% are getting the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables. We are compounding the problem with the food we�re serving in the cafeteria.

10. Increasing Nutrients The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005, gives science-based advice on food and physical activity choices for health. A Healthy Diet Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. New dietary guidelines and students� behavior patterns merit modest modifications in foods offered While the food we�re currently serving in the cafeteria meets USDA guidelines and requirements it clearly doesn�t always meet the USDA�s dietary guidelines for Americans. These guidelines call for increased fruit, vegetable and whole grain consumption and a diet of lean meats, beans, eggs and nuts. The guidelines also call for a diet low in saturated fats, transfats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars. The Cafeteria Improvement Motion addresses these recommendations by calling for a moderate, phased-in reformulation of the menu with reduced fat, sodium and added sugar, more whole grains and no trans fats. By constantly monitoring participation levels, incorporating student input along the way and working with vendors to phase it in we�re confident that we�ll be able to gradually get to healthier fare in the cafeteria while continuing to increase participation.While the food we�re currently serving in the cafeteria meets USDA guidelines and requirements it clearly doesn�t always meet the USDA�s dietary guidelines for Americans. These guidelines call for increased fruit, vegetable and whole grain consumption and a diet of lean meats, beans, eggs and nuts. The guidelines also call for a diet low in saturated fats, transfats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars. The Cafeteria Improvement Motion addresses these recommendations by calling for a moderate, phased-in reformulation of the menu with reduced fat, sodium and added sugar, more whole grains and no trans fats. By constantly monitoring participation levels, incorporating student input along the way and working with vendors to phase it in we�re confident that we�ll be able to gradually get to healthier fare in the cafeteria while continuing to increase participation.

11. Supporters United Teachers Los Angeles Los Angeles County Department of Health Services City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Healthy School Food Coalition California Food Policy Advocates Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative South L.A. Childhood Obesity Brain Trust Los Angeles Regional Foodbank Los Angeles Food Justice Network L.A. Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness L.A.�s Best Afterschool Partnership Center for Food and Justice Community Food Security Coalition Collective Space Coalition Los Angeles Alliance for a Better Community Blazers Youth Foundation Coalition For Economic Justice � Northeast Numerous Individuals We have been fortunate to receive widespread support for the Cafeteria Improvement Motion.We have been fortunate to receive widespread support for the Cafeteria Improvement Motion.