Ending the School Year on a Full Stomach Thanks to Operation Backpack

It’s no surprise our kids aren’t as healthy as they should be.

With tight schedules and even tighter budgets, it can be tricky at times for us parents to prepare nutritious, homemade meals that our kids enjoy.

But for parents in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to supermarkets, transportation and funds, it can be downright difficult to pile a child’s plate with fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, Meredith Melnick of Time reported that nearly half of American children are overweight or obese, mostly due to a lack of access to healthy foods in their environment.

Even worse than serving an unhealthy meal is that sad fact that some parents often may not be able to provide their children with a meal at all.

Thankfully, Operation Food Search in St. Louis connects families to the food they need, and this year, the organization achieved the incredible. During the 2010/2011 school year, Operation Food Search provided 3,000 children with a weekend’s worth of healthy foods each week through their Operation Backpack program – an increase of 238% from the previous school year.

At school, low-income children are able to enjoy balanced meals through free or reduced-cost meal programs. Unfortunately, when Friday winds down and the kids head home, many face a weekend of empty cupboards and empty tummies. Operation Backpack fills this two-day gap by providing referred children in 23 schools across St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County with backpacks full of nutritious, kid-friendly foods to last though Sunday.

Said Sunny Schaefer, executive director of Operation Food Search, “Every Friday, kids receive backpacks that include two protein items, such as peanut butter and jelly, canned ravioli, soups, stews, or tuna. We try to vary it from week to week. They also receive cans of vegetables and fruit, shelf-stable milk, cereal, and snacks like granola bars and fruit roll-ups. The program is designed to feed one child over the weekend, but we’ve heard from children there’s enough food to share with their families.”

In addition to Operation Backpack, Operation Food Search reaches out to low-income families through its six-week Cooking Matters program, which teaches adults and children alike how to cook and eat healthy on a budget.

According to Schaefer, children as young as eight experience a hands-on approach to good nutrition. “During the class, the kids prepare a meal together, get a nutrition lesson and learn about food budgeting. They are able to enjoy their meal together, and at the conclusion of class, are provided with a sack of groceries so they can duplicate their meal for their families.”

That last aspect is incredibly important since Reuters noted that children who sit down to a meal with their families at least three times a week had 12% lower odds of being overweight and were 24% more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.

Cooking Matters classes are offered to schools, food pantries and other community organizations, and are led by registered dieticians along with culinary and nutrition expert volunteers. Cooking Matters also offers classes specific to those with diabetes, those with HIV/AIDS, young parents and child care providers.

With the school year winding down, Operation Food Search is already revving up for the 2011/2012 school year to help even more children get the nutrition their little bodies so desperately need. To learn how you can help support Operation Backpack, visit www.operationfoodsearch.org or contact the organization at 314-726-5355.

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting