By: Makenna Sladky, Intern
It’s February, a month when we recognize how important our heart health is! Thus, we call February with the name “American Heart Month.” But shouldn’t we be practicing heart healthy habits every day? These habits are nurtured from an early age, especially in schools and their foodservice operations. Foodservice operations support and shape these healthy hearts across a lifetime. How you ask? Let’s talk about it.
Smart Meals Start with Smart Planning
There are many key heart healthy ingredients that support heart health that are served every day in schools such as:
Whole Grains are a rich source of fiber that can help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease.
Unsaturated Fats and Oils include polyunsaturated plant oils like corn, soybean, or sunflower oils and monounsaturated oils like olive oil and canola. These types of oils are good for heart health. Avocados even fall into this category as a healthy fat that contains many micronutrients that support cardiovascular health.
Fruits and Vegetables carry antioxidants that can help prevent injury to the arteries, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can assist in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease. Blueberries and strawberries contain antioxidants that help to protect against inflammation and oxidative stress that can increase the risk of developing heart disease.
Nonfat and Low-Fat Dairy is a more heart-healthy choice, as consuming these types of dairy helps to increase unsaturated fat intake, which is associated with greater cardiovascular health and a lower consumption of saturated fat.
Healthy Proteins are associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Legumes, for example, reduce cholesterol and improve blood pressure, leading to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Nuts can decrease the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease.
Other Key Aspects to Eating Heart Healthy include limiting sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars, as all of these can increase the risk of heart disease.
The Cafeteria isn’t just a Place to Eat, It’s an Opportunity to Teach Students About What They are Eating
Share with students what their plate should look using MyPlate. Include images around the cafeteria or have a school wide assembly to educate students & faculty.
Include heart-healthy tips in the cafeteria near heart-healthy foods. Next to a vegetable like broccoli you could include a sign that says “Did you Know? Broccoli is heart healthy because it is high in potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. This can help lower cholesterol, maintain blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease.” This helps students make a connection.
Hold a taste testing event and try something new like a plant-based meal, to expose more students to these types of meals. Plant-based meals can be a great heart healthy choice for students. An example would be a recipe like Fiesta Plant-Based Nachos.
Get everyone involved! Show the community how you are engaging students, parents, faculty, and more via newsletters, social media, or posters. An outreach toolkit can be found here.
Call to Action
It’s more than just food; it’s about setting students up for success—both in the classroom and in life. Don’t forget to shout out your foodservice workers for the incredible work they do to shape these students’ futures.
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