Kids View RD Nutrition Coaches As Experts

Kathryn Thompson is a Registered Dietitian (RD) nutrition coach in the Healthy Schools Partnership (HSP) in Des Moines. She began her career in culinary arts and made the transition to become an RD after taking up an interest in healthy food preparation and fitness and wellness promotion.  She shares some of the transformations that are taking place from the school classroom and cafeteria to the home.

What changes have you seen around the school since the implementation of the Healthy Schools Partnership?

Some of the school cafeterias have been involved in tracking the food choices students are making and there has been a 50 percent increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables in one the HSP schools.  Kids are excited when they come into school and they are talking to their peers about the healthy choices they are making at home.

 What has been the response of teachers, school administrators and other staff in your school  toward the Health Schools Partnership?

There has been a positive reception from teachers and administrators since HSP has started. The teachers are reporting that kids are talking about the healthier decisions they are making outside of school.  The teachers and school administrators are already looking forward to next fall and parents want to include a parent cooking class – expanding the program and talking about taking the program a step further.

How important is it for kids to have role models who help influence and guide their choices?

As an RD nutrition coach it is very important for us to be there as role models.  Kids view us as experts in the field – just like a dentist, a doctor or a coach, kids listen to experts – they truly latch on to what we are saying. Kids are also role models for each other, they talk to each other about eating healthy “did you power pack today” – encouraging friends and asking what each other had to eat or drink.

What does this program mean in context of the effort to prevent childhood obesity in the United States?

The Healthy Schools Partnership is the right answer – it needs to be implemented at multiple ages and integrated into a yearly program. Kids need to be educated on and incorporate the HSP model into their lifestyle. This model is a great start to turning around the childhood obesity epidemic.