At elementary schools across Mineral County, DeLoyce Tyler regularly talks to third-graders about the food pyramid.
Their eyes often open wider when she gets to the part that shows what a true single-serving size looks like, said the county extension agent who specializes in nutrition.
At Clinton Elementary School on Thursday, third-graders analyzed sodium content and food labels on beef jerky, snack crackers, canned soup and noodles in a cup with the help of Lisa Tims, a community health specialist with the Missoula City-County Health Department. It was her seventh visit to the classroom. She plans three more this semester.
"They understand that too much salt may lead to high blood pressure," Tims said. "It gives them a general idea of how much is too much."
At other sessions, pupils have analyzed fat and sugar content and learned about how to eat and exercise for a healthy heart. The lessons are part of the Coordinated Approach to Children's Health curriculum, or CATCH, available through the health department.
Clinton, Frenchtown and Seeley Lake elementary schools are in their first year of trying it. Paxson and Franklin helped pilot the program three years ago.
School nutrition is weighing heavy on the minds of health officials and educators these days as childhood obesity reaches epidemic proportions and education leaders recognize a growing body of research that shows nutrition and test scores are linked.
At a video conference Thursday titled "Got Test Scores: Enhancing Academic Achievement Through A Healthy School Environment," about 225 nutrition and education officials from 14 locations across the state discussed the issue and shared success stories of changes to school policy and environment that have resulted in improved student achievement and health.
Key topics included a discussion of "Recess Before Lunch" and "Breakfast Boosts Brainpower" programs, ways to improve afternoon academics and behavior, and how to sell nutrition to students.
"If we want to improve academics, we need to make changes in nutrition," said Mary Stein, a faculty member in the Montana State University's Department of Health and Human Development who has come up with instruction for K-12 teachers on nutrition topics.
Kids who eat breakfast behave better and have an easier time learning. Students who eat low-protein diets generate low test scores and those who are iron deficient struggle with cognitive functions and math.
Poor hydration creates an inability to concentrate, while regular exercise reduces anxiety and stress.
Despite the data, Stein said the news on children's nutrition and physical well being is bad. Youngsters are consuming too many calories, but not enough nutrients. Adult diseases such as diabetes and obesity are becoming more prevalent in children.
"Of the children born in 2000, one in three will become diabetic at some point in their life," Stein said. That's 33 percent of the population, compared with the current figure of about 6 percent.
So what needs to be done? Katie Bark, a registered dietician and a Montana Team Nutrition Program education specialist with the state Office of Public Instruction, said it's a societal and community issue in which children need to receive consistent healthy messages about nutrition and exercise.
Since children spend up to 12 hours a day, nine months out of the year at school, education facilities provide a great opportunity to have an impact on the problem, she said.
Schools need to make a commitment to a healthy school environment. At St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, staff members have started a daily walking program to model healthy behavior for students.
Schools need to offer healthy and appealing meals such as a salad bar. They also should reconsider selling unhealthy food for fund-raisers and cease using food to reward or punish student behavior.
Vending machine choices also should be reviewed.
"We need to make sure items we want them to choose are available to them," Bark said.
More than a couple dozen educators and nutrition specialists attended one of the conference's outreach sites at the University of Montana on Thursday.
Barb Conwell, an MSU extension agent and nutrition assistant for Ravalli County, participated in the event to gather more statistics and ideas that she hopes to use in the field.
Sharon Patterson, who works in the MSU Extension Office in Superior, came as a concerned citizen and because the topic piqued her interest. She said she lives in a small town where she sees a lot of malnutrition.
"I don't believe pop machines should be in our schools," she said. "The nutrition issue needs to be addressed. If poor nutrition lowers test scores, why do we have this stuff in the schools?"
Bark said she hoped people would leave the statewide conference with ideas for action that they can take and implement in their schools.
"It's a long process, but take small bites," said John Kauffman, a Bozeman School District trustee participating in the conference. "We need to get this message out in the community because the science behind it is compelling."
Reporter Jane Rider can be reached at 523-5298 or at jrider@missoulian.com
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