Two schools win nutrition awards

Lakeside Elementary and Somers Middle School earned bronze awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge program.

The HealthierUS School Challenge program recognizes schools that create healthy environments by promoting excellence in nutrition and physical activity.  

Lakeside elementary and Somers middle school are among 20 schools in Montana to receive bronze level national recognition.

To qualify for the Bronze Award, the schools submitted applications documenting adherence to challenge criteria for their breakfast and lunch menus, nutrition education, opportunities for physical activity, and a local school wellness policy. 

Schools had to serve a minimum of one fresh fruit weekly as part of the bronze award designation.

Somers-Lakeside District Food Service Director Robin Vogler said she and her staff, with FoodCorps support, were honored to receive the award

“My colleagues and I strive to create healthy, nutritious, kid-friendly meals utilizing as many school-grown and local products as we can manage. A well-nourished child has a big leg up on succeeding academically, and we are focused on providing a variety of scratch-made food options in our school menus,” Vogler said in a press release. 

The district has worked hard to create a menu that has more food made from scratch and includes lean proteins, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk. A soup and salad bar is offered daily during the school year. 

Priority is also placed on physical education during the school day and in after school programs. 

The district hosts an annual 5K family fun run. 

Somers-Lakeside has provided nutrition education through various channels including garden-based and farm-to-school education.