Students across King County are eating healthier this year, thanks to the work of five local school districts to improve school nutrition. From making it easier for kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to improving nutrition education, the Kent<\/a>, Auburn, Highline, Renton and Seattle school districts are working to make healthy choices easier for students, while fighting childhood obesity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that good nutrition helps keep kids healthy, but it\u2019s also crucial for ensuring that students succeed in schools,\u201d said Dr. Alan Spicciati, the interim superintendent at Highline Public Schools and member of the leadership team for Communities Putting Prevention to Work. \u201cMany of our local districts are making exciting changes in school nutrition. Our goal is healthy students who are ready to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n School districts are working to make school meals healthier by serving more fruits and vegetables, providing nutrition education, increasing whole grains, reducing sodium levels, making free water available during school meals, and providing only low-fat or nonfat milk. Projects to improve school nutrition in King County also include:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Students in the Kent School District<\/a> are eating more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a new farm-to-school model program that connects the school district to local farmers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 The \u201cServing Healthy Choices\u201d campaign in the Highline Public Schools makes it easier for students to choose healthy foods by marking healthy menu items with a new icon in cafeterias for the entire district.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 More than 4,000 students and staff in the Auburn School District have signed on to the \u201cCommit to Fit\u201d campaign, a student-led effort to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 New digital menu boards in the Renton School District will note healthy choices with a student-designed icon.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 The \u201cHarvest of the Month\u201d program in the Seattle Public Schools features locally grown produce, whole grains and dairy products once a month in cafeterias in 35 schools across the district, along with educational materials focused on local foods.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n For more information about the improvements in nutrition by these five public school districts in King County, visit: www.kingcounty.gov\/healthservices\/health\/news\/2011\/11101002a.aspx<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n