Health and nutrition

SNAC's goals

To encourage healthier food choices for students and their families in a positive environment.

To promote the message that healthy food can taste delicious and be easy to prepare from scratch.

To make food preparation an enjoyable and satisfying experience.

To change behavior of children in hopes of impacting long-term nutritional status.

SNAC's community partners

Banana and Carrot walking arm in arm SNAC members have worked collaboratively since 1994 to promote common nutrition messages and teach practical nutrition education. Community organizations, government programs, businesses, volunteers and an enthusiastic staff are responsible for the program's success.

Consortium members who make in-kind or financial contributions to SNAC include:

Seattle Public Schools
Auburn School District
Public Health - Seattle & King County
City of Seattle, Human Services Department
City of Seattle, Parks & Recreation Department
Puget Sound Educational Service District
Solid Ground's Apple Corps

SNAC's community programs

SNAC has developed several innovative nutrition education programs that reach families:

Eat Better, Feel Better (EBFB)is a comprehensive nutrition, physical activity and health program that goes beyond classroom education, supporting food access through policies and system changes and partnering with school food service, and other community agencies, to reach common goals. The program aims to change behaviors around eating, health and activity levels. EBFB brings a multitude of benefits and programs to seven King County elementary schools (five in Seattle Public Schools and two in the Highline School District.) Schools are limited to ones where 50% or more of the students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch.

Public Health - Seattle & King County promotes healthy school environments in five Seattle Public Schools with three EBFB Wellness Coordinators. In addition, each Public Health Wellness Coordinator is paired with a member of Solid Ground's Apple Corps. The Wellness Coordinator forms the relationships necessary to affect personal and environmental change, acts as a role model for the staff, family and students and brings in community partners to support future successes at the school.

The five EBFB schools in Seattle are Concord, Emerson, T.T. Minor, John Muir and Van Asselt elementary schools.

The program was originally funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJW) national initiative Healthy Eating by Design (HEbD) and received the HEbD "School Innovation" award in May of 2006.

Mission Delicious

Mission Deliciousis an elementary school-based program developed in collaboration with Seattle Public Schools (Child Nutrition Services and Health Education Department), Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium, Solid Ground's Apple Corps, and community volunteers to bring messages about healthy eating to elementary students in selected schools. Staff and school district personnel work with students to teach food preparation skills and to promote healthful eating. The Mission Delicious curriculum includes classroom-based and take-home elements to reinforce nutrition messages.

Food, Culture and Readingis a series of eight, interactive nutrition lessons for preschoolers attending Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) sites in Seattle & King County. The Food, Culture, and Reading curriculum used by SNAC is an adapted version from the University of Vermont Extension. Food, Culture, and Reading is a pre-school through Grade 2 nutrition education program using picture books to learn about food and different cultures. During each lesson students are read a book, featuring a nutrition theme, and then prepare a healthy snack. SNAC also makes presentations at ECEAP parent meetings. Parents learn about nutrition, participate in preparing a healthy recipe and taste freshly prepared foods.

Some the book titles include, Magda's Tortillas by Becky Chavarria-Chairez, A Day at the Market by Sara Anderson, Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland, and Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin.

The Cooking Clubis offered for at least 10 weeks to school-aged and teen childcare programs in after school and summer day camp programs. The Cooking Club provides an interactive, hands-on cooking, tasting, and nutrition experience. Students learn about MyPyramid and prepare and taste a new, healthy recipe during each class.