  Overview
Formed in 2001, the Network for a Healthy
California—LAUSD is a collaborative effort involving students, teachers,
school nurses, administrators, food service professionals, parents,
corporate partners and community members. With creativity, planning and
solid educational practices, we are able to guide the talents of many into
thoughtful, meaningful and effective learning experiences for thousands of
students, with an emphasis on low-income children, in LAUSD.
The Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD is changing the way students think about food and exercise. We know from experience that children actually get excited about their health when they are challenged to explore their taste buds, minds and bodies. In the classroom, the planning, preparation and enjoyment of food is easily turned into an educational experience that can be woven into many curricular areas – even math and history!
These eating exercises leave the students hungry to learn more, and the next natural step is to explore how the body uses the energy derived from food. Exercise is easily encouraged when it is fun and makes sense.
More than 320 schools are members of the Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD,
integrating nutrition and physical activity into classroom curriculum.
Why is nutrition education important?
In recent years, several studies have indicated that California is facing
a health crisis, and the Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD is
helping lead the rally cry toward better health for district
students.
By starting at a young age, participating LAUSD students learn to adopt
healthy habits that will last their lifetime – which will especially be
helpful to the more than 40 percent of LAUSD elementary students found to
be overweight in a 1998 UCLA study. This figure closely mirrors the 38
percent of California children (ages 9 to 11) who are overweight or at
risk of becoming overweight, as revealed by the 2003 California Children’s
Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey (CalCHEEPS), a statewide
surveillance project of the California Department of Health Services.
These high levels of obesity can translate into a whole host of health
issues.
This is where we come in.
 According to recent impact evaluations, the Network for a Healthy
California—LAUSD is making a difference and changing students’
attitudes and preferences about nutrition and the importance of physical
activity. This is a significant accomplishment and important first step in
reversing the obesity epidemic our students are facing.
In our program, students learn that a healthy lifestyle – such as eating more fruits and vegetables – is easier than they think and offers many health benefits, including helping fight obesity. By taking just a few simple steps to improve their dietary practices and physical activity, they also can help combat common chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.
And the benefits don’t stop there. Studies also show increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables helps kids improve their academic performance and classroom behavior as well as provides them with a boost of energy to help increase physical activity.
What are we doing?
Using innovative, hands-on learning techniques, the Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD encourages children to experience the many benefits of eating more servings of fruits and vegetables and participating in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
We use food's universal appeal as a starting point in our projects. In the classroom, the planning, preparation and enjoyment of food is easily turned into an educational experience that can be woven into many core curricular areas – mathematics, science, language arts, social studies and history.
When children realize the value and importance of healthy nutrition, the next natural step is to explore how the body uses the energy derived from food for physical and mental activity. Exercise is easily encouraged when it is fun and makes sense.
And, we’re encouraging students to take these healthy messages home to their parents as a means of motivating entire families to work toward achieving healthier and more active lifestyles.
Anyone who is concerned about the health, education and future success of children is encouraged to become involved with the
Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD.
Click here for a printable overview of the Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD.
Last updated 6/2008
|