Lead Agency: PedNet Coalition

A revolution against food advertising began with fifth-grade students at West Boulevard Elementary School. The Healthy Eating by Design project integrated a 12-week media literacy curriculum into the classroom to teach students about healthy eating and the impact of the media on food and health behaviors. Guided by the director of Columbia Access Television, a registered dietitian and their teacher, the students' experience culminated in the production of healthy eating video messages that were publicly screened at a local theater. After learning about how the media can influence their choices, students committed to adopting healthy behaviors, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer fast foods and high-sugar foods and choosing more reasonable portion sizes. Many of those behaviors have become healthy habits, as one student explained, "I've been reading nutrition facts nonstop. It is a total hobby right now. Every time I pick something up, I read the facts." The students' commitment to healthy eating extended beyond school—they became role models for healthy eating to their parents and peers. Even more students in Columbia will benefit from the media literacy curriculum and cooking program, as they will be replicated in four schools where more than half of the students are eligible for free- or reduced-priced lunch.

First- and second-grade students at West Boulevard Elementary School also participated in the Tasty Bites program, which highlighted a different fruit or vegetable each month and provided samples twice weekly. The program helped expose students to new healthy foods, which were prepared and presented in various ways, to change students' eating behaviors and attitudes. The Tasty Bites program also reached out to parents with fact sheets, recipes and opportunities to sample the fruit or vegetable of the month during family evening events at the school. At each evening event, parents also were eligible to win cooking equipment, ingredients and recipes for the fruit or vegetable of the month. The Columbia/Boone County Health Department will continue to support these activities in the future, which will allow more students and families to benefit from Tasty Bites lunch samples and newsletters.

These programs were further strengthened through policy and environmental changes at West Boulevard Elementary School. A local artist enlisted students to redecorate the cafeteria with bright murals that portray a variety of foods and illustrate the growing process from farm to table. The cafeteria murals also incorporate the philosophy of the school's 5 STARR Points of Behavior: I am Safe, I Try Hard, I Achieve, I am Respectful, I am Responsible. This model for environmental change will be replicated through cafeteria redecoration projects at four other schools in the district.

Additional policy successes included updating the snack policy listed in the parent handbook to include healthy options and providing teachers with a list of healthy snack, party and fundraising ideas. The impact of the Columbia Healthy Eating by Design project led to the formation of a new Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids committee, which will address the needs of the Columbia Public Schools Nutrition Services and academic departments. The committee also will tackle pressing issues such as providing adequate time and a supportive environment for students to eat healthy meals at school.