Kentucky Leads the Nation in School Nutrition Rules
Kentucky has the strongest school nutrition policy in the nation, according to the School Foods Report Card issued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Kentucky's school food policies earned an "A-." The policy only allows vending machines and school stores to sell food on campus in the afternoon, a half-hour after the last lunch period, and has strong nutrition standards for foods and drinks sold during the rest of the day in all schools.
Permitted drinks include 1 percent or fat-free milk, waters, 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, or other drinks with less than 10 grams of sugars per serving.
For foods, the report concludes that Kentucky set reasonable standards for portion sizes, saturated fat, sugars and sodium.
According to the report, Kentucky's school nutrition policy got an "A-" rather than an "A" because of its weak beverage portion size standards, lack of limits on trans fat and a loophole for a la carte foods.
Kentucky Youth Behavior Risk Report
Mixed news on Kentucky children's health behaviors was released in the Kentucky Youth Behavior Risk Report: 1997-2003 Trends and 2004 Baseline Data. The survey, gathered through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports behavior trends among students in grades 6 through 12.
Kentucky youth made significant improvement in reducing unhealthy behaviors such as: smoking, riding with someone who had been drinking, drinking and driving, monthly use of marijuana, carrying weapons and inhalant use.
However, Kentucky has the highest rate of high school obesity, and is among the five states with the highest percentage of high school students at risk of becoming overweight. Kentucky students are also the least likely in the nation to be in a physical education class at school.
The Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Report can be viewed online at the UK Center for Prevention Research's Web site under Reports and Data. www.uky.edu/RGS/PreventionResearch/
ACT Info
The next nationwide ACT testing date is Oct. 28. The registration deadline is Sept. 22. Visit the Web site this summer for sample ACT test questions, test day tips and to register online.
ACT offers a monthly online newsletter—ACT Parent—that is full of suggestions and tips to help you guide your kids through middle school and high school toward college and a career.
Learn More About the Fourth
For many families, the 4th of July means family picnics and fireworks. But it's also a good time to teach your kids about the reason for this American celebration. The History Channel's Web site offers an explanation with its "History of July 4." It includes some facts and figures about the holiday, some historic photos of earlier celebrations, a video on the Declaration of Independence and more.
The Web site also provides the text from the Declaration of Independence. If you haven't read the Declaration for a while, July 4th is the perfect occasion. It's a great way for you to sneak in a history lesson for your child between the baked beans and fireworks show.
Fireworks Safety
Read the following safety reminders from the American Academy of Pediatrics before shooting any fireworks this July 4.
Fireworks can result in severe burns, scars and disfigurement that can last a lifetime. Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, i.e. sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. They can burn users and bystanders. Parents should attend professional fireworks displays rather than using fireworks at home. The APP recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or Internet.