Sue Kidd Aramark - Dietetic Internship Program – Kansas City

Susan Kidd, an intern with the Aramark Dietetic Internship Program, she spent a one month internship rotation with the Healthy Schools Partnership in Kansas City, MO.

Tell us about your background? What drives you?

I was an older student and graduated last year after having seven children. I am very interested in preventative care—I run marathons and I’m very health conscious. I am very alarmed by the increase in childhood obesity. One out of three children will be diabetic and that number goes way up within minority populations. The Healthy School Partnerships is a forerunner in this effort. We can make a significant effort.

What has your experience been with the Healthy Schools Partnership?

It’s a unique model. Everything is always siloed and the messages aren’t getting through to kids. Fitness is promoted in school but nutrition lags far behind. We teach them that they go hand in hand through games and fun activities. It’s amazing what students learn…and how little they know when they start. They just love everything fried and they have no concept of what a nutritious food is, but they love to run and play games—we help them connect the two. The one-on-one counseling is especially helpful, we can talk personally to each child and connect with them one at a time.

Generating excitement is important with grade school children—playing games in the classroom and giving them fun and fresh food. We try to create a surround sound effect by putting up posters, handing out t-shirts and other prizes.

We also personalize their experience. We take pictures of the kids and put them on banners, to celebrate their achievements in learning about healthy eating and exercise. I have never seen this kind of excitement around nutrition when we play our energy in and energy out games and activities. They are eating it up!

Did you see a difference between the pre and post program evaluations? Were there any changes in behaviors or outlooks on fitness and nutrition?

The kids take pre-tests and then are tested after. I am appalled at their lack of nutrition knowledge. When they are tested afterwards it’s like night and day. You can tell that the light goes on and they can see the connection between fitness and nutrition. After a few weeks they will start to educate their parents. They have a goal and a determination to be better.

What does the future hold for the Healthy Schools Partnership? Do you see this as a critical program for the health and well-being of our children and our nation?

The program is on the cutting edge in terms of prevention. This program will save our nation millions of dollars.

We have an opportunity to reach kids that were before only exposed to fast foods and the couch. After this program we can see kids making changes to their behavior. And we have seen measureable outcomes – when knowledge increases, healthy behavior increases. You get to see huge changes in a very short time.