Originally published in the Fall 2024 edition of PoppySeeds, the Official Journal for the California Child Nutrition Professional
Community meal nights, increased access to dairy, fruits and vegetables, and engagement of students in the creation of school meals are just a few of the outcomes of three community grants awarded by Dairy Council of California as part of the Let’s Eat Healthy initiative. The community grants are especially important, as financial support for wellness goals is often underfunded.
The grants, valued at $5,000 each, are the result of a collaboration between Dairy Council of California and the Santa Barbara County Schools Wellness Summit to advance the health and well-being of schools and communities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The grants were awarded during the 10th annual Santa Barbara County School Wellness Summit to San Miguel Joint Union School District, Orcutt Union School District and Vista Del Mar Union School District for the 2023-2024 school year.
“At the Santa Barbara County School Wellness Council, we’re thrilled when we heard we were being awarded the community grants. It was an honor to be entrusted with the opportunity we knew the community grants provide to enhance our school wellness programs and to further collaborate with the Dairy Council of California through the Let’s Eat Healthy Initiative.” said Kirsten Criswell, 2024 Let’s Eat Healthy Leadership Award Winner and Coordinator of the School Wellness Summit.
Since receiving a grant, San Miguel Joint Union School District in San Luis Obispo County has been able to better connect the school classroom, garden and cafeteria. The district used grant resources to purchase materials and supplies, support its annual nutrition spirit week, and plan and host its first community meal night with 250 families in attendance. Also, the grant enabled the district to increase parent participation through activities like planting in the garden, apron painting and a resource fair.
Orcutt Union School District in Santa Barbara County utilized its grant to transform a high school cafeteria. This included implementing Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) strategies to increase student participation in school meals. SLM was created in 2009 by Cornell University Food & Brand Lab and was brought to California in 2012 with the mission of empowering students to make healthy choices by supporting school communities and transforming cafeteria environments. Through the grant, the district was able to increase locations in the cafeteria where students can access healthy foods. Portable barrels were purchased for chilled milk and water, and table tents were created with nutrition information. Additionally, a new flavor station and an assortment of items were introduced to the salad bar and pre-made grab-and-go salad options were made available to students.
At the Vista Del Mar Union School District, also in Santa Barbara County, the funding allowed more student nutrition ambassadors to be involved in the development and creation of meals offered at school, thus increasing their understanding of how to put together a balanced, healthy meal. The district also hopes its students will share their knowledge with their families so that healthy eating can extend beyond the school and into their homes.
“As I reflect on the impact of the community grants, they have been a powerful and welcomed resource in helping advance access to nutrition education, enhance food and agricultural literacy, and support nutrition security by increasing access to healthy, wholesome foods, including milk and dairy foods,” says Criswell.
The grants are part of Dairy Council of California’s Let’s Eat Healthy initiative, which was introduced in 2020 and unites community leaders and stakeholders from education, school food service, public health, health care and agriculture to empower lifelong healthy eating habits for children and families. Since its inception, Let’s Eat Healthy has introduced a variety of resources and events to the community in support of its mission, including awarding community grants across California. The Let’s Eat Healthy initiative advocates that: