2009-2010 Accomplishments
Codman's 2009-2010 Nutrition Theme: Hypertension
1) The Nutrition Action Club launched a Junk Food Free month. Students, staff, parents, and community partners pledged to abstain from any Junk Food on school campus in order to build awareness of how a poor diet can contribute to hypertension, which is a preventable condition that is greatly aggravated by high salt content in foods.
2) Codman's 11th grade chemistry teacher, Carrie-Anne Sherwood, designed her curriculum to involve authentic investigations into the chemistry of cooking and the foods that we eat. In order to understand the chemistry of some of the foods we eat, her students learned that the difference between a fat being okay, and even necessary, for us to take in and one that could potentially lead to serious health complications is the result of a certain compound having a double or triple bond in it, as opposed to only a single bond.
3) Our nutrition program submitted a Vending Items & Nutritional Guidelines Proposal for the Codman Health Center to follow as a result of our Junk-Food Free Month Campaign. The Health Center has now modified their food option for their staff because of this movement.
4) The Boston Public Health Commission kicked off Soda Free Summer with the help of Codman Academy students from the NAC. Students spoke to the media and presented at the kick-off.
5) During the summer institute the 9th graders learned ways to make healthier snacks and avoid unhealthy “junk foods/” They commented:
- “Cool to learn about different foods you can make together for a quick snack, instead of always going for cookies or pop-tarts”
- “Healthy” isn’t just “good and bad foods” or calorie/fat/sugar content, but about types of food and balance and moderation”
- “Goal: try to drink less Pepsi, not sneak it into school”
- “First day, I didn’t want to hear it, to change anything. Then feel like when I attempted eating healthier I did better at sports.”
- “Will go to McDonalds/fast food places less often, eat at home more often”
