FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexis Steines
(301) 686-3100, ext. 175
asteines@schoolnutrition.org

All-Star School Lunch:  A Slam-Dunk In Promoting
Healthy Eating And Active Lifestyles For Students

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK CAMPAIGN ALLOWS STUDENTS TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING A HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., September 17, 2009 – The non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) and the Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP) invites students nationwide to participate in “All-Star School Lunch,” a NBA-inspired campaign to help students learn the importance of eating healthy school lunches and staying active.  The campaign culminates during National School Lunch Week, October 12-16, 2009. 

Students who visit www.allstarschoollunch.org will find a full court press of activities and information on the nutrition campaign.  The site features the All-Star School Lunch Team choices of participating NBA/WNBA players – well-balanced, nutritious lunch menus including fruits and vegetables, like kiwi and Mexicali corn, whole grain pastas and breads, as well as vegetarian fare. 
 
Participants can download trading cards for each team, complete with photos of the famous honorary coach.  As a nutrition bonus, the flip side of the card features nutrition “stats” and information about why the lunch is healthy. 

Online and in cafeterias, students will also have the opportunity to draft and name their own All-Star School Lunch Team by choosing five healthy menu items, or “players,” to complete a nutritious school lunch “team.”  Students select a participating NBA/WNBA player to coach their team and explain why their All-Star lunch is healthy.  Schools will select their top three student All-Stars to compete in the national cafeteria contest, which awards the winning four students with a NBA prize pack.

SNA’s nationwide membership of 55,000 school nutrition professionals work in schools and communities to provide balanced, nutritious school meals, information on proper portion sizes and nutrition education for children.  Each year, to raise awareness of the importance of the National School Lunch Program, SNA helps schools celebrate National School Lunch Week with an official theme, suggested menus and recipes, promotional resources and more.

Serving nearly 31 million children every school day, the federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced low-cost and free meals to students.  The program requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards:

• Dietary guidelines dictate no more than 30 percent of calories can come from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat
• Over the course of one week, lunches must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories
• Well-balanced school lunches must include protein, fruits and vegetables, grains and low-fat milk and be served in age-appropriate portions

The School Nutrition Association has found that nationwide nearly every school district offers students fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free milk and salad bars or pre-packaged salads.  Most schools still bake items from scratch in their kitchens and school districts are offering more vegetarian meals and locally sourced foods.

The School Nutrition Association (SNA), www.schoolnutrition.org, is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country.  The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals.  Founded in 1946, SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.

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