| State
Conference Report: Nutrition 101
October was a popular state conference
month, and I recently enjoyed attending Washington State AHPERD's
annual meeting. State conferences always offer something new to
learn, whether it's in the presentations, in the exhibit hall, or
traveling along the corridors. For me, the latter is usually the
best part, because it's the once-a-year opportunity I have to catch
up on news from former students and local teachers, and learn more
about key issues that are impacting physical education in our schools.
 One
of WAHPERD's keynote speakers this year was Dr. David Katz, a professor
at Yale University's School of Medicine. As someone who is "nutritionally
challenged" - content to argue that my high activity level
compensates for my poor eating habits - it was helpful to hear practical
advice for moving towards a more nutritious diet.
Katz's simple metaphor, to explain the obesity epidemic we face,
was that we are like "Polar bears in the Sahara." Traits
that aided our survival in the past now threaten our demise. He
noted, "Humans overeat just like polar bears overheat."
Unlike our ancestors who had to move to find food, and could eat
excessively because they were unsure when they would next eat, we
now face an overabundance of food, and less and less reason to move.
We are addicted to certain tastes, conditioned in unhealthy eating
habits, eat to counter stress, and are overwhelmed by the constant
mass marketing of non-nutritious foods.
Katz pointed out that, as a nation, we produce more food than we
can eat, that portion sizes keep increasing, and that most of us
have grown up with a "you must clean your plate" mentality,
rather than a more healthy "only eat what you need" message.
He was critical of popularly promoted diets, because rarely did
they produce long-term change. Instead, he recommended a common sense
approach to nutrition and physical activity that children needed
to learn from their parents and in our schools. He noted that it
was relatively easy to make critical substitutions in our food choices,
and in many instances improve, rather than worsen taste.
Katz observed that some people felt that making good nutritional
choices was a personal responsibility, while others felt it was
environmentally determined. He noted that it was usually privileged
people who argued the former. Disadvantaged people, he explained,
often did not have good nutritional choices available. And most
importantly, people needed adequate knowledge to be able to make
good personal choices.
He saw the role of schools as a means of empowering people with
the skills, knowledge, and habits needed to stay healthy. Today
for example, he pointed out that snacking appropriately between
meals and spoiling one's appetite might be exactly what we need
to do to control overeating. Katz offered much more practical advice,
and has several books available through his website.
. He is also the creator of a program for children entitled the
"Nutrition Detective."
On the related topic of wellness, NASPE Executive Director, Charlene
Burgeson, would like to encourage those of you with a school district
wellness policy to post it on the NASPE Forum. I have already posted
our local policy and you can see it here
in the forum. South Carolina's recent wellness legislation is
posted too.
There is a link to the NASPE Forum in the menu bar at the top of
every PELINKS4U section page. There are many school districts around
the country yet to finalize a wellness policy, and would probably
welcome the chance to see some samples if you would like to add
to this collection.
Have a great month. Stay healthy. Remember to eat in moderation
over Thanksgiving. And finally, if you recently heard or made a
presentation you'd like to share with your colleagues nationwide,
contact us at PELINKS4U.
Steve Jefferies, Publisher
PELINKS4U
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