Registered Dietitian Leads Families to Better Health

"Dr. Steele (Superintendent Dr. Kathy Steele) knows that students learn better when they are well-fed," Frost told the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club Thursday at noon in the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

Frost said the school corporation is working with a different provider this year, one that shares her vision of healthier meals in public schools.

The emphasis on more nutritious meals started when Crawfordsville's breakfast and lunch program was audited several years ago. The school corporation failed in four of seven areas which the administration found unacceptable, Frost said.

In 2004, a wellness committee was formed for the purpose of improving the students' meal choices.

"We covered everything from parties in classrooms to fundraisers," Frost said.

Deep fat fryers were sold and most junk food was no longer offered in Crawfordsville schools. Fruit and veggies are offered in cafeterias.

Soda machines largely have been replaced with machines that offer yogurt, cheese and milk.

Children have learned to enjoy fruit and vegetables they had never tried.

The next step will be to educate families, which might be more challenging, Frost said.

"People are not all thrilled we are trying to serve their children healthy food," she said.

One parent called her this week to say she didn't care about fats in her children's diet.

Frost said the percentage of children who receive reduced or free meals at school has risen from about 50 percent to nearly 65 percent since the recession began.

Frost is looking into a "universal breakfast" program that would provide free breakfasts for students at no cost to the school system.