Healthy School Environment
Maryland
Currently, more than 20 individuals are working together as part of Maryland Action for Healthy Kids to take action for Maryland children's nutrition and fitness. Members represent a wide range of organizations, school districts, health professionals and non-profit organizations, including Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association.
Maryland Action for Healthy Kids is working with schools to achieve three goals from the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity:
- Provide students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with behavior-focused nutrition education integrated into the curriculum that is interactive and teaches the skills they need to adopt healthy eating habits.
- Provide an adequate amount of time for students to eat school meals, and schedule lunch periods at reasonable hours around midday.
- Provide all children from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with quality daily physical education that helps develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors and confidence needed to be physically active for life.
On December 1-2, 2004, Maryland Action for Healthy Kids (MAFHK) partnered with Maryland State Department of Education, School and Community Nutrition Programs Branch and Division of Instruction, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and American Cancer Society to conduct a summit that addressed school health issues relating to healthy eating and physical activity.
The summit, supported by the USDA's Team Nutrition Grant, was attended by groups that have an interest and responsibility in the education and health of children, most specifically as it relates to school nutrition and fitness. As a result, every county in Maryland now has a local team working toward one of the chosen MAFHK Commitment to Change goals.