This story was originally published in 2018 and updated with new information in 2024.
"Dear Family, please come to lunch at my school to try one of the recipes we made in our classroom, and now they are making it in our lunchroom!"
Integrated Nutrition Education Program
The Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP) is a creative and fun way for kids to learn about healthy eating in their classroom. They share what they learn with their families. Most lessons include hands on cooking activities. These activities teach students how to prepare and taste new fruits and vegetables. INEP is conducted through partnerships with the University of Colorado, School of Public Health; and Colorado school districts; and schools from around the state. INEP is currently working with almost 16,000 students and their families.
Mesa County District 51 School Food Service (SFS) and INEP partnered from 2009 – 2019. Students and their families were encouraged to make healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. INEP and Mesa SFS worked together for 3 years to hold “INEP at Lunch” parent events. For example, Pear Park Elementary selected INEP’s Chinese Vegetable Salad to serve to students and over 50 parents who attended the event that day. The students helped plan, promote, and work the event. The year before, the event successfully featured INEP’s Chicken Salad Wrap which was officially adopted onto the Mesa SFS menu!
At Clifton Elementary, the lunch staff members held a creative naming contest for “green beans.” Students were asked to vote for their favorite creative name from the following selections:
- Ninja Turtle Fries
- Groovy Green Beans
- Hulk Smash Fingers
Ninja Turtle Fries won! Using creative names and involving students in the process is an evidence-based best practice for “Smarter Lunchrooms.” “Smarter Lunchrooms” help students choose more fruits and vegetables by changing the layout and marketing of foods. INEP has provided signage for the lunch line. SFS staff have displayed the signs every time Ninja Turtle Fries was served. The SFS Director for Mesa D51 loved the students’ name section and used it the district school lunch menu. Now that’s a win for everyone!
Challenge
Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables is a challenge for students and their families. INEP partners with school wellness teams, school food service and community partners to promote and support Policy, Systems, and Environmental changes. These changes can provide students and their families with tools and resources to help make healthier choices.
Successes
Systems and environmental changes have had beneficial outcomes:
- Adoption of new recipes by SFS
- Ability to focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption
- Sharing information with the parents and students
- Highlighting for parents the many healthy school lunch options available to their children
- One parent commented that the partnership: Gave my child a chance to eat something new and different.
SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework
The program is using SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework indicator MT5 Nutrition Supports Adopted. This is a group-based intervention strategy aimed at system and/or environment level change. Mesa SFS adopted INEP recipes into district wide menu.
This post was submitted by Colorado SNAP-Ed; Integrated Nutrition Education Program, Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center. For more information contact Deanna LaFlamme or visit our website at School and Community Wellness Program.