District School Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer III, Steve Bergonzoni and Monique Hatten from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, N.J. Department of Agriculture Rose Tricario, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, McKnight Principal Sylvia Zircher, Food Service Director Diane Tomori, and McKnight Assistant Principal David Bilenker
United States Department of Agriculture and New Jersey Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition officials presented Ethel McKnight Elementary School with the HealthierUS. School Challenge Award.
The award is presented to schools that that promote good nutrition and physical activity.
The school was awarded the bronze level prize, which includes a $500 prize, banner and certificate.
“Ethel McKnight School is committed to offering healthy choices in its cafeteria and only needed to make a few adjustments to earn this prestigious award,” Rose Tricario, Director of the N.J. Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food and Nutrition said in a statement.
The HealthierUS School Challenge is a voluntary national certification initiative for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the initiative encourages schools to take a leadership role in helping students to make healthier eating and physical activity choices that will last a lifetime.
To attain the Challenge, the school’s food service director revamped the school lunch menu to incorporate a variety of different dark green and red vegetables along with legumes. Whole grain items and breads were also increased.
McKnight School formed an active School Wellness Council with self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs, which completed the Centers for Disease Control School Health Index.
In addition, students received hands-on nutrition education through teams of teachers, trained parent volunteers and Rutgers Family and Community Health Sciences faculty and staff.
McKnight School is one of 68 in the state that earned the award.
Schools receiving a HUSSC award commit to meeting the criteria throughout their four-year certification period.
To qualify for an award, a school must submit a formal application and meet basic criteria set forth by the FNS for food that should be served in schools. Healthier U.S. Schools must also have a local school wellness policy.
More information is online at fns.usda.gov/tn/healthierus/index.html.
