Can a simple switch of when students go to recess have an impact on a student’s health?
School nurse Shane Allison said not only do national studies show children eat healthier after recess, but a fourth-grade experiment conducted at the Middletown elementary school found the same results.
“We first talked to the students about what it takes to be a scientist and then they did all the work conducting the experiment and pulling together the results,” Allison said.
For two weeks, a group of students collected food and milk waste separately at the end of lunch periods. They weighed each container after lunch each day and looked at the difference between how much was tossed depending on whether recess was before or after lunch.
When recess was before lunch, just more than a quarter of a pound was thrown away. When recess was after lunch, nearly half a pound of food and milk waste was created per student per day. On average, students ate 32 percent more food when recess was before lunch.
When school lunches makes up one-third to one-half of the dietary needs of students who have free or reduced lunch, the relevance of these numbers is clear, said Susan Combs, Middletown City School District’s student services director.
“Students stop rushing through their lunch to go to recess and eat more of what we serve,” Combs said. “They eat a more well-balanced meal, which is so important. It’s not just about the quantity of food, but the variety of food they eat.”
Allison said he has seen fewer student health referrals and had reports of improved classroom performance and fewer disciplinary issues since the school kicked off its “Recess Before Lunch” program.
Based on the program’s success, district officials said every Middletown school will implement “Recess Before Lunch” next academic year.
Some schools ahead of curve on obesity
Local schools have overhauled their food programs and stretched their imaginations to encourage healthier lifestyles for their students.
Ohio’s youth are struggling with their weight, according to a report released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation ranked Ohio 15th in the nation in its survey: “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America.”
Middletown City Schools don’t need to be told there is a problem with childhood obesity in Ohio. Fifty percent of its fifth-graders were considered overweight or at risk of being overweight according to statistics released by the district. The statistics have been collected since the 2006-07 school year, according to Student Services Director Susan Combs, in an effort to work with parents to help improve their children’s health.
“We feel it’s a good tool to have and gives us a sense of where our students are,” Combs said. “We have acted on these numbers within our schools in many ways.”
Middletown schools have a wellness plan that encompasses everything from what type of food can be served in the cafeteria and sold in vending machines to what snacks should be served at classroom parties. A comprehensive list of suggested healthy snacks (fruits, vegetables, etc.) is available on the district’s Web site.
But overcoming tradition is one of the biggest hurdles for school officials to overcome, said Combs.
“We think of cupcakes and cookies for school parties and selling candy bars for fundraisers,” she said. “It’s been done that way for years. It’s going to take time to change everyone’s way of thinking.”
This year, breakfast is available for every student in the district no matter the student’s financial status. Next year, all schools will start a recess before lunch program. In 2011-12, all Middletown schools also will be encouraged to avoid using recess as a reward or punishment for behavior.
“Every student needs to have that physical activity,” Combs said. “We don’t want it to be taken away from them. We know it’s a big change in our thinking, which is why we’ve staggered introducing these programs to make it easier on the schools and parents.”
The Madison Local School District also has made similar changes to school meal programs, but are also seeking funds to introduce activity programs to students.
“We have been looking at grants for curriculum packages …, which provide alternative equipment and programs than the traditional physical education classes,” said district spokeswoman A.J. Huff. “We’re even exploring options like archery; it’s a matter of finding new and innovative ways to get kids interested and get them moving.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or mrossiter@coxohio.com
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