West Virginia children are at risk for poor nutrition, and schools are in a great position to do something about it.The West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Child Nutrition says it has developed a statewide campaign to dramatically improve the way kids eat at school.

Child nutrition directors in both Raleigh and Fayette counties say they are taking a lead in the “Smart Foods = Smarter Kids” campaign by directly engaging parents, students, schools and community leaders in the effort to improve school nutrition.

“The Office of Child Nutrition has created a great new online tool kit to help parents, students, schools and communities get involved in the statewide effort to improve school nutrition,” said David Seay, director of Child Nutrition for Fayette County Schools.

“At www.wvsmartfoods.com, moms, dads, teachers, principals and community leaders will find a complete menu of information, tools and Web links to help us in our efforts to ensure kids are eating the right foods at school and at home.”

Every school in West Virginia is required to have a local wellness work plan and active local wellness council to improve awareness about the importance of child nutrition

“To achieve the goal of smart foods and smarter kids, we need to get our entire community excited about good child nutrition,” said Rosie Cook, Raleigh County’s child nutrition director.

“Parents, schools and communities can help make eating at school healthy and cool. One of the best ways for them to get involved is by joining their local school wellness council.”

One of the first activities the wellness councils will undertake is asking local parents, community leaders and students to sign a card supporting the goals of the “Smart Foods = Smarter Kids” campaign.

The sign-on cards will be used to develop a database of local citizens who care about the nutrition needs of children.

To learn more about how you can get involved in your school’s wellness council, call your local Child Nutrition Office. In Fayette, call Seay at 304-574-1176, ext. 2136, or e-mail him at dseay@access.k12.wv.us. In Raleigh County, call Cook at 304-256-4660, ext. 224, or e-mail her at rmcook@access.k12.wv. us.

– E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com

—–

To see more of The Register-Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.register-herald.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.