Do You Want Fries with That?
By Tami Carter-McNulty, Senior Recruiter

More and more, children and adults are turning to healthier alternatives when it comes to eating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Saying “no” to fries and “yes” to fruits and vegetables is becoming more of a norm. Sodexo is helping make that difference in the lives of many children and within the communities we serve.

The growing obesity rate in both children and adults has increased at an alarming rate. Many children are unable to deal with their condition and often it continues to plague them into their adult years, experts say. As the rate grows, we are constantly looking to improve ways of cutting the risk. With assistance from Sodexo, students are being exposed to more options of fruits and vegetables and given the opportunity to sample those items.

Jeff Hanaway, General Manager for Sodexo, said the focus is to keep children away from foods with no nutritional value. "We want them to try fruits and vegetables as opposed to cakes, candy and snacks," Hanaway said. "We show them fruits like a pineapple, which they might not be exposed to at home. We also show them how they can be prepared, and we even provide recipes for them to take home so they can get the entire family involved.”

Sodexo has also implemented the School Stars Performance Zone program, targeting both elementary and secondary education sites that Sodexo manages. The program is designed to take kids on a journey of education about nutrition, exercise and healthy habits. “The focus needs to be on communication and education,” says Larry Fullmer, an Area Operations Manager for Sodexo’s education division. “Sodexo devotes classroom time with schools and parent organizations to guide and engage everyone on the importance of healthy living.” The Sodexo Stars Program comes with a CD full of lesson plans and ideas for schools and principals to roll out to their students. “It’s very user-friendly and is a great way to put education in the hands of those that work one on one with the students,” Fuller goes on to highlight. “Our hope is that this education continues on at home with the parents so it’s reinforced and embraced on all levels.”

One struggle Sodexo faces is the competition of fast food and commercial restaurants that can often take the attention away from nutritional menu items. Kids can still be seen coming in the door with fast food bags and soda cans. “There will always be an attraction to french fries; in fact, we still offer it to our students, but offer it as an a la carte item,” Fullmer says. “Along with those items, there is a good blend of baked items as well, so kids have choices.”

Sodexo is also working to make a difference through the Create Your Weight program. In one area of Miami, this program is being tailored to help combat obesity in the Hispanic community. The program, which recently launched at Aventura Hospital, is completely in Spanish and helps participants shift to a healthier lifestyle.

Did you know?
Company-wide, Sodexo chooses to cook with zero trans fat oils, the first in the industry to take this step. With a variety of nutritious meal options, including locally-grown and organic food products, Sodexo is making strides to stay at the forefront of healthy living.