CPS Taskforce to Promote Healthy Eating & Smart Choices

On May 11, 2004, over 60 people representing 32 organizations participated in the kick-off meeting for the CPS Taskforce to Promote Healthy & Smart Choices. Two months earlier, Arne Duncan, CEO for Chicago Public Schools, announced the formation of this taskforce along with CPS’ efforts to improve the nutritional content of beverages and snacks offered in the school district’s vending machines.

The taskforce has been convened in recognition of the following principles:

1. Good nutrition is important to learning and academic achievement.
2. Learning healthy eating habits is important to a student’s quality of life and disease prevention.
3. Schools and the school community play an important role in teaching healthy eating habits.
4. Healthy eating is influenced by family, community and culture.

The Taskforce established three priority issues:

1. Expanding access to school breakfast and after-school meals;
2. Promoting healthy food; and,
3. Advancing health education.

The Taskforce is focused on two initiatives to improve the school food environment. The Cool Foods Project is an initiative designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among elementary students in pilot schools through grab-n-go breakfasts, salad lunch bars, after-school snacks and nutrition education. This initiative is being led by the Chicago Food Systems Collaborative. The Eat Smart Initiative will build support for CPS’ new snack vending policy through a school-based marketing campaign and nutrition education. This initiative is being led by the Healthy Schools Campaign. In addition, the Taskforce is promoting Coordinated School Health as an important strategy for addressing a range of other issues at CPS including increased physical education and health education.

The taskforce meets quarterly at the central offices for CPS. If you would like to participate in any future taskforce meetings or to obtain additional information, please contact the Healthy Schools Campaign at 312-419-1810.

Past Meeting Materials

>> January 17, 2006

• Agenda
  
• Presentations (Preliminary Findings of Cool Foods Project and CPS Local Wellness Policy Development Process)

>> April 13, 2005

• Agenda
  
• Presentations (CPS CATCH and School Health Index )
  
• Meeting Summary

>> January 20, 2005

• Agenda
  
• Presentations (Local Food System and Tobacco Prevention)
  
• Meeting Summary

 

Materials/Resources

>> Spring 2005 Newsletter
>> Fall 2004 Newsletter
>> CPS Snack & Vending Policy, Adopted June 2004
>> Approved List of Vending Items
>> Fact Sheets on Taskforce Priorities