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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Susanne Callahan, MA and Brooke Bennett, MS, RD. Bronx Healthy Hearts, Institute for Urban Family Health, 16 East 16th St., New York, NY 10003, 212-633-0800, scallahan@institute2000.org

Background: The Institute for Urban Family Health's Bronx Healthy Hearts (BHH) program strives to improve the cardiovascular health of low-income, ethnically diverse residents of the southwest Bronx. Roughly 43% of children in the target area are overweight or obese. BHH works with elementary schools to develop policies that will lead to healthy school environments.

Program Description: A Committee on Nutrition and Fitness was formed to disseminate consistent health messages to all schools in Region 1 of the Bronx. The committee includes school and health-based organizations, NYC's Department of Health and Board of Education, and Bronx Health REACH, a community coalition working to eliminate racial disparities in health. The committee approached the Office of School Food and Nutrition (OSF) about eliminating whole milk from school cafeterias and reducing the amount of sweetened milk. To address OSF's concerns about potential decreases in milk consumption and school lunch program participation, a program was piloted in 55 elementary schools. All participating schools have replaced whole milk with low fat and fat free milk. Half offer sweetened milk at lunchtime one day per week, and half offer it three times per week. Previously, sweetened milk was offered every day at breakfast, lunch, and at the after school meal.

Results: Widespread support of the program has led the NYC Board of Education to eliminate whole milk from all NYC schools by March 2006. Preliminary results of the pilot program in the Bronx indicate a slight decrease in milk consumption when only unsweetened milk is available.

Learning Objectives: