Children and Weight Recent government health surveys found 31 percent of children in the U.S. are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. There are two main reasons for the increase in overweight children. First, children are consuming more calories. Research shows between 1989 and 1996, U.S. children consumed as many as 230 extra calories/day. Health experts say children are eating larger portions of food, more high energy density foods (high-fat, high-calorie items), more snacks, and more sugar-sweetened beverages (like sodas and sweetened fruit drinks).

The second reason for increasing weight stems from a lack of physical activity. Compared to their counterparts of a few generations ago, children today are not nearly as active. Instead of walking, cars and buses are used to travel to and from school and activities. Children often have fewer outdoor chores (like helping with the farm or animals) and spend a considerable time in sedentary activities (like watching television, using the computer or playing video games). The Surgeon General reports nearly half of all Americans 12 to 21 don't get enough physical activity; about 14 percent of youths aren't physically active at all.

School Lunches Researchers estimate about 92 percent of American students eat a prepared lunch at school at least once a week. More than half eat school lunches every day.

School lunches are designed to provide a nutritional, balanced meal for children. But sometimes children don't eat the food that is served. Research suggests children tend to gravitate to the high-fat, high-calorie foods (like french fries and cakes) and leave behind the fruits and vegetables. In schools with vending machines, children may opt for the cookies, potato chips and soda rather than the school lunch.

Sodexho, a leading supplier of nutrition services to U.S. schools, has developed a nutrition education program for children in grades K through 6 called "School Stars." The goal of the program is to provide information about nutritious food and well-balanced meals in a simple, fun setting.

The School Stars program introduces a character, named "Lift-Off!" who encourages children to take on the challenge of a healthy lifestyle. The concepts are taught and reinforced through activity sheets, games, crossword puzzles and a visit from a costumed Lift-Off. Teachers and parents can download supplemental materials from the company's website.

Another important concept in the School Stars program is the "A to Z salad bar." The food service has a list of fruits and vegetables that correspond with each letter of the alphabet (like "A" for apple and "B" for banana). A special salad bar is set up in the cafeteria with some of the featured foods starting with different letters of the alphabet. Children can take as many of the featured fruits and vegetables as they want. The A to Z salad bar gives children a chance to taste fruits and vegetables they may not have seen or eaten before.

Children like to make their own decisions, so choice is another important component of the program. The typical lunch allows children to choose from one of five entrees along with the featured fruits and vegetables. The food service also offers a regular salad bar, sandwich wraps, entrée salads, deli sandwiches or a grab bag with yogurt, fruit and a vegetable.

The School Stars program is offered in elementary schools in 450 school districts in the U.S. Administrators say children are excited to learn about and try new foods. School cafeterias also have less waste because students are picking foods they want to eat.

For information about the Sodexho program, log onto : http://www.besmart-eatsmart-livesmart.com. Then click on the links under the heading, "School Stars - Grades K through 6"

For information about nutrition for children or school lunches: American Dietetic Association, http://www.eatright.org Food Research and Action Center, http://www.frac.org School Nutrition Association, http://www.schoolnutrition.org USDA, Food Pyramid for Kids http://mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html