Grants Make Healthier Meal Options a Possibility

District 300 Grant Specialist Eric Knutson presented a nutritional wellness update during the District 300 school board meeting on Feb. 14. 

The district has revamped its school lunch menu in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s "Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge." To read more about some of the changes to meals in District 300, visit our Lake in the Hills Patch article from Tuesday.

Knutson highlighted the following grants that helped District 300 improve its school meal program:

• $107,000 Obama Stimulus Grant. Used to buy kitchen equipment and two walk-in coolers to implement the new programs.  
• $38,500 Breakfast Startup Grant. Money used to buy equipment and program implementation for 11 of District 300’s schools.
• $225,000 Fresh Fruit and Veggie Grant. Money directed to five schools. Added fruit and veggie snacks two times per week for children and staff.
• The CACFP Child Care Wellness Grant 2010. After-school supper program. Serves 400 meals daily at seven title schools. No cost to the district as the program is run by federal funding.
• $56,000 Illinois Nutrition and Education Grant for Healthier U.S. School Challenge. Money used to fund nutrition curriculum and the "D300 is Gold" video.

Check back to Lake in the Hills Patch Wednesday afternoon for our weekly Moms Talk column where we will feature topics on child nutrition and how to get your kids to eat healthier.