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For Immediate Release
DALLAS, PA – August 10, 2009 – The Metz & Associates, Ltd. managed dining programs at both the Cranberry Area and Pennsbury School Districts in Pennsylvania have been awarded “Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity” mini-grants. The goal of these mini-grants, which were funded through a 2008 USDA Team Nutrition Grant and administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is to facilitate implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in school meals programs. The grants were also awarded to support this implementation with strategies designed to empower students to make healthy choices related to diet and physical activity, and capitalize on the potential of teachers, school foodservice personnel, parents, and others to serve as positive role models related to diet and physical activity.

“We realize the important role that schools play in providing nutrition education and encouraging healthy eating habits in students,” said Amy Brinton, the Nutrition Educator for Metz & Associates, Ltd. at the Pennsbury School District. “We have developed a unique plan for reaching the grant objectives that combines cafeteria-based wellness education with the strategic marketing of nutrient dense foods.”

According to Brinton, a portion of the grant money will be used to provide training for the dining staff on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to better prepare them to develop healthy new recipes or revitalize old ones. The remainder of the funds will be used to facilitate implementation of new wellness initiatives in the high school cafeterias and to provide nutrition education opportunities to both students and adults.

A few of the dining wellness initiatives that have already been implemented by the Metz team at Pennsbury include a wider selection of healthy Up for Grabs items (Metz’s grab n’ go concept), such as salads, wraps, fruit parfaits, and trail mix, as well as a fruit and yogurt parfait bar and freshly-made smoothies during breakfast. For the upcoming school year, the Metz team plans to add more vegetarian and vegan meal options, expand the smoothie program, provide nutritional information along the serving lines, and provide additional wellness education materials that relate directly to the school meal program.

The action plan presented by Metz that helped secure grants for their dining programs, included the development of wellness programs tailored to various school age groups, a widespread marketing strategy focused on showcasing only the most healthful foods and beverages, new recipe development, and the further training and education of foodservice staff and teachers. In addition, the plan calls for an after-school event for parents, hosted by Metz & Associates, featuring tours of the school’s cafeterias, food samplings and informational sessions.

“It is our hope that through this event parents will feel empowered to make positive changes in their own dietary and physical activity habits- enabling them to serve as role models to support healthy lifestyle changes for their children,” Brinton said.

“Many children are not meeting the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for American, because of diets that are low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat and sugar. They are also less physically active than recommended, which is leading to higher instances of childhood obesity,” said Steve Kline, General Manager, Metz & Associates, Ltd., at Pennsbury School District. “At Metz & Associates, it is our goal to partner with the schools we serve to help raise awareness and encourage children on the path the healthier eating and exercise.”

Metz & Associates, Ltd., a premier food service company for the Northeast United States, provides dining and environmental management to clients such as hospitals, assisted living & long-term care facilities, school districts and independent schools, colleges and universities and corporate offices. For more information on Metz & Associates, Ltd., visit our website at www.metzltd.com or call 570.675.8100.