Release No. 0306.99

Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
laura.trivers@usda.gov

Jean Daniel (703) 305-2286
jean.daniel@fns.usda.gov

USDA AWARDS $4.2 MILLION IN TEAM NUTRITION GRANTS TO 16 STATES

WASHINGTON, July 27, 1999 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced grants totaling $4.2 million to sixteen states for Team Nutrition training and demonstration projects. Team Nutrition is a nationwide campaign aimed at improving school children's nutrition and health using nutrition education and training of school food service professionals.

"Team Nutrition works. It improves children's eating behaviors in the classroom and at home," Glickman said. "These grants to some of the most dedicated professionals in the American educational system will help reinforce that good, healthy behavior among children, helping to ensure their future success."

Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Shirley Watkins, at the American School Food Service Association in Denver, Colo., announced the release of a new USDA Team Nutrition Evaluation Study. The study found that nutrition
education and promotion activities lead to improvement in students' eating behavior but cautioned that the gains are short term, and that lessons and behaviors must be reinforced.

"The evaluation study shows Team Nutrition changes children's eating behavior by helping them understand that healthy eating helps them learn and grow better," said Watkins. "Our 1999 Team Nutrition training and demonstration grants will help states
and local schools reinforce these critical messages so that dietary changes are sustained for the long term." 

The Team Nutrition Evaluation Study assessed the food choices, eating behavior, nutrition skills and motivation of 1,500 fourth-graders at 24 selected schools that agreed to participate in a study of Team Nutrition's healthy-eating messages and activities through the spring semester of 1996 and again in the fall. The study found that students' food choices showed modest, but statistically significant gains when compared to students from other schools that did not offer the Team Nutrition promotions.

"The evaluation study shows improvements in students' food choices are relatively small, but are striking when you consider the short time frame of each study phase," Watkins said. "The wide range of Team Nutrition activities, in addition to classroom lessons and meal improvements, add up to make an important difference at the schools that participated in the study."

Watkins said the training and demonstration grants will help fund projects in 16 states through August of 2000. The four states receiving demonstration grants will work together and with the Food and Nutrition Service to develop high-visibility Team
Nutrition projects that other states can use as models. The projects will provide positive nutrition messages through six channels of communication: classroom activities, food service initiatives, school-wide events, home activities, community events, and media
events and coverage.

The 12 States receiving the Team Nutrition training grants will use the funds to establish or enhance training programs for implementing Team Nutrition. States may also use their funding to provide local grants to school districts to develop their own
comprehensive, action-oriented delivery of training programs for implementing Team Nutrition.

Team Nutrition training grants will be awarded in the following states:

These funding figures are approximate, and receipt of funds is contingent upon a completed grant or cooperative agreement.

Team Nutrition Demonstration grants will be awarded in the following states: 

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