Chartwells Food Service Celebrates National School Lunch Week

By Susan Coney

Chartwells School Dining Services, which provides the food service for all of Newtown public schools, joined the rest of the country to celebrate National School Lunch Week, which takes place the second week in October.

Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program has been providing millions of America’s children with meals each school day. Today the National School Lunch Program and the US Department of Agriculture are encouraging schools and local communities to promote healthy lifestyles. Their goal is to foster healthy eating habits and provide access to nutritious food, helping to protect America’s children against childhood obesity, diabetes, and the risk of health problems later in life.

Chartwells is doing its part by encouraging school children to choose healthy snacks and meals with an aim at improving student wellness. The resident dietician for Chartwells is Jill Patterson, whose job is to provide a wide variety of services in promoting and overseeing that Newtown students have a healthy selection of foods at school from which to choose.

Ms Patterson grew up in Kennebunk, Maine, and is a graduate of the School of Allied Health at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. She is starting her second year working for Chartwells and says that she loves the position. “There is lots of variety in my job. I train and work with the food service workers, teach proper nutrition in fun ways to youngsters, and work with teachers and parents regarding childhood nutrition. We have been busy running the Five-a-Day Fruits and Vegetables promotion in Reed and all of the elementary schools to promote a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

In addition to working with teachers, children, and parents, Ms Patterson also analyzes the school menus and makes adjustments so that the food service program meets or exceeds the menu requirements set forth by the US Department of Agriculture. She has been working with Newtown District Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard in developing the Newtown Wellness Committee, which will create the Newtown wellness policy that must be implemented no later than the first day of school after June 30, 2006. Ms Patterson will also work with Ms Blanchard to update the health curriculum for the district.

Ms Patterson is available for parents if they have questions about their child with food allergies, diabetes, high cholesterol, or any other medical conditions that would require dietary modifications and food choices in the cafeteria.

Ms Patterson is excited about the new Balanced Choices program that will be implemented in the schools within the next couple of months. The Balanced Choices program has an updated looking logo sticker that identifies the “better for you” snacks and beverages, helping students select foods that follow the most current guidelines for a healthier lifestyle.

At Reed and the elementary schools colorful posters and lively Chartwells character stuffed animals that represent the different food groups catch the eye of the younger students. Ms Patterson uses the stuffed animals when teaching children about proper nutrition and making healthy food selections.

During National School Lunch Week intermediate and elementary aged students received activity coloring sheets and a box of crayons when they purchased a lunch that contained a fruit or vegetable. “It is a fun incentive to encourage the children to branch out and try different fruits and vegetables,” Ms Patterson stated.