Link: http://www.naturalpress.info/
Students in one midwestern community are enjoying fresh, delicious food plus a big change in their learning environment.
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Walk down the hallways of the Appleton, Wisconsin, Central Alternative High School and you will see students focused on their education, interacting successfully with each other and with their teachers. Notice the calmness and purposefulness that sets these teens apart from others.
You will notice that the hallways are different in another respect. They aren't lined with soft drink and junk food machines. Then check out the cafeteria. There is no smell of grease. Burgers, fries and burritos have been replaced with salads, meats prepared with old fashioned recipes, and whole grain breads. Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered and the students drink water.
Grades are up, truancy is no longer a problem, arguments are rare, and teachers are able to spend their time teaching. What's going on in Appleton Wisconsin?
In 1997 Natural Ovens of Manitowoc, WI initiated a five-year project to bring healthy food into area schools. The goal was to show that fresh, nutritious food can make a real difference in the student's behavior, learning and health.
Just prior to the beginning of the program, Greg Bretthauer was offered the job of dean of students at the school. What he saw were teens who were "rude, obnoxious, and ill mannered" and he turned the job down.
Because the school had so many problems with discipline and weapons violations a police officer was recruited to be on the staff. He found a school that was out of control.
Today Greg is the dean of students in an atmosphere that is vastly different from what he saw in 1997.
The story of the Appleton project has been documented on a short videotape, Impact of Fresh, Healthy Foods on Learning and Behavior - 2002. It is available from: Natural Press, P.O. Box 730, Manitowoc, WI 54221-0730. The price of $10 for each tape includes shipping and handling. If you live outside the United States, please contact them at lois.herman@naturalovens.com to ask about price and shipping for your country.
Principal, LuAnn Coenen is amazed at the change she has seen in her school. Each year principals are required to file a report with the state of Wisconsin, detailing the number of students who have: dropped out, been expelled, been found using drugs, carrying weapons or who have committed suicide. Since the start of the program, she reported, the numbers in every category have been "zero."
Mary Bruyette, a teacher at the high school, believes "If you've been guzzling Mountain Dew and eating chips and you're flying all over the place I don't think you're going to pick up a whole lot in class." She reports that the students are now calm and well behaved. "I don't have to deal with the daily discipline issues; that just isn't an issue here."
Mary goes on to say, "Our biggest problems now at the school are parking in the parking lot and student tardiness. I don't have the disruptions in class or the difficulties with student behavior that I experienced before we started the food program."
Students who previously had been headed for trouble have turned their lives around, according to Dr. Thomas Scullen, Superintendent of the Appleton Area School District. He told the interviewer, "We have kids who have had a lot of problems and got through the whole last year without an expulsion. Drop-outs dropped to non-existent. Kids came to school. They have learned that with healthier foods it's going to make them a better person. It keeps them more focused and makes them happier."
Dr. Scullen had expected that the healthy diet would improve behavior, but he was pleasantly surprised that it has had such an impact on academic performance.
Mary Bruyette can demand more, academically, from the students than she previously had. Now she can use all of the class period for instruction.
The high school's counselor, Deb Larson, says, "I don't have the angry outbursts so instead we get to deal with the real issues that are underlying and causing some of the problems in the kid's lives."
Why don't other schools try this approach? Typically, while school dietitians want children to eat healthier food, they are convinced such efforts will be futile, and if students cannot get their fast food in the cafeteria they will buy it off campus. This does not appear to have been a problem in Appleton, where the food is not only natural, it is prepared with care. Natural Ovens made sure of this by supplying their own cooks to the school.
Like children on the Feingold Program, once these teens have made the connection between food, behavior and learning, they tend to prefer to enjoy the benefits. One student said, "I really like the food. It tastes good, it's hot, it's fresh."
One girl commented, "Now that I concentrate I think it is easier to get along with people 'cause now I'm paying attention to what they have to say and not just worrying about what I have to say to them." Another student said, "If you're going for a big test you want to eat great." The on-campus policeman, Dan Tauber, is able to be a role model now, instead of a disciplinarian. Students are interested in how he eats to keep in such good physical shape, and have noticed their athletic abilities have a lot to do with their diet.
"Returning students are now the advocates for the program. The kids encourage each other," according to Mary Bruyette. "They set the example for the new kids. It works great."
Many of the changes are being phased in to Appleton's middle and elementary schools. Candy machines are gone and pop machines are being replaced with juice machines or water coolers. There is a district-wide commitment to healthier eating and lifestyle in general. "I've taught here almost 30 years. I see the kids this year as calmer, easier to talk to. They just seem more rational. I had thought about retiring this year and basically I've decided to teach another year -- I'm having too much fun!" Dennis Abrahm,-middle school science teacher
Even in schools where more modest changes have been made, there are some real differences. Gary Van Lankvelt, principal of the Einstein Middle School, has seen "more calmness and less bouncy activity. Students seem to be more alert and focused."
Madison Middle School's principal, Fred Ginnochio says the students are buying the healthier a la carte items and more are using the salad bar. He has found when the kids are in the halls "we have not had one incident all year that I have had to get involved in with shoving, a fight, aggressive behavior."
Dr. Scullen sees an eventual switchover in all of Appleton's schools. "It can take several years to make the transition. The program will sell itself on its own merits, given the time. I think instead of looking at the food program as a "break-even" we have to take a look at what do we have to put in to make it really good for the kids."
What about increased cost?
"One child arrested would cost the schools more."
Dr. Barbara Reed Stitt,
Natural Ovens President
Natural Ovens underwrote the cost for their 5 year study that will eventually impact 200 Wisconsin schools. The price to turn the problem around was $20,000 a year. Natural Ovens President, Dr. Barbara Reed Stitt, noted that "one child arrested would cost the schools more."
Dr. Scullen believes, "if it results in a happier kid, improved learning, and ultimately a better community then it's a cost we cannot avoid. It's something we must do."
Says Dan Tauber "Let's invest in the kids now, financially, with food versus invest in them later, financially, with 'how do we correct the problems we have because they are not eating healthy?'" "Nutrition for students should be part of the general operating budget" according to Mary Bruyette. "We're concerned about everything else. We're concerned about new band uniforms. We're concerned about the football team. We're concerned about text books. Why not be concerned about nutrition? That seems to me the basis in many cases for creating a positive learning environment."
LuAnn Coenen says "I can't buy the argument that it's too costly for schools to provide good nutrition for their students. I found that one cost will reduce another. I don't have the vandalism. I don't have the litter. I don't have the need for high security." "We've got to stop using our most precious commodity -- our kids -- to make extra money."
For more information on the Appleton, Wisconsin school project contact Natural Ovens at (800) 558-3535.
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Feingold School Program
Reprinted with permission from the October 2002 issue of Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold® Association of the United States, P.O. Box 6550, Alexandria, VA 22306
Your bones are awesome! They give you support, structure, protection, and are essential to EVERY MOVE you make. Consequently, it is so important to take good care of your bones to prevent a condicion called osteoporosis. When bones are affected by osteoporosis, the honeycomb spaces within the bones become much bigger which makes the bones less dense, weaker, and more susceptible to breaking.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), up to 50% of all women and 25% of all men over 50 years old will sustain fragility fractures in their remaining lifetime. If you've broken your bones due to poor bone health, you are very likely to suffer another fracture.
With your healthcare provider, you need to work together to strengthen your bone health. You can start with eating smart and staying active. Calcium, vitamin D and exercise are all essential to keeping bones strong.
You can get your calcium by eating calcium rich foods:
1. Natural sources- dairy products, certain vegetables, and some fish.
2. Calcium-fortified foods- some juices, cereals, and breads.
3. Calcium supplements- supplements may help you get what you need to meet your daily requirements.
The recommended daily intake for calcium for people 50 years and older is 1200 mg. You may need more according to your healthcare provider.
Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D, your bones can lose mass and weaken. There are three ways to get vitamin D:
1. Exposure to sunlight. The skin makes vitamin D from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
2. Foods. Some foods such as salmon and vitamin enriched foods such as milk and cereal.
3. Supplements. Make sure you check to see what is already in the multivitamin you are already taking before you add supplements.
Finally, weight bearing exercises help to strengthen your bones as well! According to the National Osteoporsis Foundation, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercises on most days and do strengthening exercises on each major muscle group 2 to 3 times a week.
Remember to consult with your healthcare provider to find out how you can strengthen your bone health and prevent osteoporosis. Take care of your bones and your bones will take care of you!
A common question we have had here at the office is, " Which foods have the most exposure to pesticides?" Great question!!! According to www.foodnews.org here is the top 20 foods with the highest pesticide load:
- Peach
- Apple
- Sweet Bell Pepper
- Celery
- Nectarine
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Grapes- Imported
- Carrot
- Pear
- Collard Greens
- Spinach
- Potato
- Green Beans
- Summer Squash
- Pepper
- Cucumber
- Raspberries
Other helpful links for you to do more research and decide what foods are best for your family:
www.niany.com/food.coop.html#florida
Hope this information helps! The more information you have, you can trulyl make informed decisions regarding your family's health!
Link: http://www.drzelner.com/?page=seminars
Another Evenings at Dr. Z's on The Power of Metabolism was jammed packed this month! We had over 35 participants come brave the cold temperature on Thursday evening to learn more about metabolism and health.The main point Dr. Zelner made was this... FOOD IS MEDICINE. Did you ever think of food as "medicine?" This is exactly the message Dr. Zelner wanted to bring home. Food rich with phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals is what our bodies, the mitochondria in our cells, need to function optimally. Whole foods, not processed foods in a box, can, or wrapped in foil or plastic. Our bodies thrive on whole foods that Nature gave us.
She also touched upon the topics of high phytonutrient foods, low glycemic index foods, organic, and no GMOs in food. It was amazing how much "junk" is out there and how we need to be aware consumers and READ the ingredients we find in our grocery stores.She also surprised many with the fact that you cannot lose weight until your body is well! This means that if you have thyroid/ metabolic/ hormonal imbalances, your metabolism cannot function properly unless your body is back to health! WOW! It is a slow and gradual process, but it DOES work. Dr. Zelner shared with us that it took her TWO YEARS to fix her own metabolism/health and she humorously stated, " And I have my undivided attention and it still took me that long..."
It was definitely a lively discussion that evening and the Q & A lasted for another 45 minutes afterwards! We were so happy to be able to feed your minds with great information about metabolism and health.If you would like more information or questions answered, please comment on this blog! We would love to hear from you!!!
Link: http://www.drzelner.com/?page=seminars
We had our very first Evening at Dr. Z's seminar last Thursday, Jan. 14th with the topic of Relaxation and Rejuvenation for 2010. It was a phenomenal success with 32 attendees! (We even had one brave husband join a room full of estrogen! WOW!) The room was packed and the energy was so wonderful. It was amazing how so many took the time out of their busy schedules to come to learn the healing benefits of relaxation and how to put themselves FIRST!!!
The evening started with some organic tea and soothing background music. Each person learned how to breathe, the art of "letting go", and how to say "No" to overscheduling calendars. They also learned how to develop a bedtime ritual to begin relaxation to enhance the restorative powers of a good night's sleep.
We also went through a guided relaxation technique where we gradually relaxed muscles from the tops of our heads to the tips of our toes! Of course, picturing ourselves on a serene beach with a cool breeze caressing our faces definitely helped! AHHH.... so relaxing.
Everyone enjoyed the seminar so much that we are planning to have monthly relaxation classes! We would love to have you join us! More information to come.
Our warmest gratitude to everyone who came to share with us the power of breath and intentions! Continued blessings to all!
