Pilot Project: Garfield School District RE-2

PILOT PROJECT: Garfield School District RE-2

Garfield School District RE-2
839 Whiteriver Ave. - Rifle, CO 81650 www.garfieldre2.k12.co.us

• Number of schools: 10
• Number of students: 4,430
• Nutrition Services Director: Susan Beecraft
• Number of meals served per day: 2,300 lunches, 600 breakfasts
• Percentage of free and reduced meals: 53%
• Participation rate (among students): 56%
• Student population: 41.5% Latino, 56.5% White, 2% Other
• Average cost per meal: Breakfast, $2.00 - $2.50; Lunch, $2.75 - $3.75

Children’s Health Foundation brought in Kate Adamick, a school meal reform expert, to assess the school breakfast and lunch programs in the Garfield RE-2 district. Adamick found that the meals were unhealthy, laden with trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, and missing essential fresh fruits and vegetables. When these assessments were presented to Garfield’s Nutrition Services Director Sue Beecraft in 2008, she swiftly embraced the recommendations given to create a nutritious food environment for students. Beecraft worked together with Children's Health Foundation to implement the Lunch for Life Program, a healthy nutrition in schools project, in the fall of 2008.

During the 2008/09 school year Beecraft implemented district-wide school meal policies that eliminated processed food, chocolate milk, all products with trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, and a la carte items. She also introduced salad bars with mixed greens, replaced canned fruits and vegetables with fresh, and increased the use of whole grains. Beecraft says, “for the first time in its history, the Garfield RE-2 school lunch program is serving ‘real food’ to their students, promoting healthy lifestyles and a positive learning environment.

The lunch program focuses on serving ‘made from scratch’ entrees, homemade whole wheat breads, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.” Through the willingness of Beecraft and her nutrition services staff to create change, they are setting an example of a healthy lifestyle environment for students, teachers, and administrators in their district and community.