U.S. Potato Board To Give $25,000 In School Wellness Grants to Promote Healthy School Nutrition Environments
The U.S. Potato Board (USPB) has supported nutrition education in schools for decades and for its newest educational initiative, the USPB has teamed up with the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) to launch its first-ever School Wellness Grant Program.
The USPB will award 10 grants, $2,500 each, to public elementary schools in the United States for equipment and/or educational programs that will help bring healthier and more nutritious diets to school children.
With childhood obesity at epidemic proportions and the initiation of school wellness policies across the country, many school nutrition program directors are faced with finding healthy and, tasty food for school lunches their students will actually eat. At the same time, schools want to provide outlets for physical activity to help children be more active. The USPB’s grant program allows schools to allocate funds toward improving nutrition at schools or physical activity among students, whatever is most needed.
School administrators, foodservice staff, teachers and parents can submit an application for the USPB’s School Wellness Grant Program on behalf of their elementary school. Applications are now available at www.healthypotato.com/health.asp or http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Index.aspx?id=2620 and must be completed by April 15, 2008. Winners will be announced at the 2008 School Nutrition Association Annual Conference. Winners names will also be posted right here on the Potato Underground!
If you’re looking to make your school lunch more nutritious, potatoes are full of vitamins and minerals. One medium (5.3 oz) potato has 110 calories and almost half (45%) of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C. A potato with skin has 2 grams of dietary fiber and is a good source of vitamin B6 (10% DV) and potassium (18% DV).
