Overview

Our Elementary and Middle School campuses have joined a program dedicated to the physical health of our students. CATCH, in its long-form, is known as The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (formerly, The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health). The goals of CATCH include the promotion and maintenance of heart- healthy behaviors in children and adolescents. CATCH has been approved by the Texas State Board of Education.

Wellness Policy SY 18-19 | Local Wellness Policy Assessment

CATCH coordinates four component areas:

  • School Nutrition – CATCH Eat Smart guides school cafeterias toward promoting a nutrition rich environment. Child-tested recipes and Eat Smart Guidelines offer concrete ways to prepare foods that meet the USDA guidelines.
  • Classroom – Go For Health, a cartoon-and peer-based curriculum, teaches healthy eating, daily physical activity and tobacco avoidance – habits that prevent chronic disease.
  • Physical Education – CATCH PE provides standards based physical education lessons to teach lifelong movement skills which blend both fun and fitness.
  • Family – At home, the health messages children learn in school are reinforced with interactive and enjoyable Home Team activities. The school community is brought together through school hosted events such as CATCH Family Fun Nights.

How do the children benefit?

  • CATCH arms children with practical skills they can use to make healthy choices for life.
  • CATCH fosters healthy children and healthy children are better learners.
  • CATCH strengthens community by increasing collaboration among parents, teachers, administration, and school partners.
  • CATCH guides children in the process of being healthy for a lifetime.
Fruit

What is Child Nutrition Services doing to promote CATCH?

Menu Requirements

  • Portion sizes in accordance with the Food Guide Pyramid
  • Calories appropriate for age
  • 30% calories from fat
  • 10% calories from saturated fat
  • In line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Healthier Menu Choices

  • No added fat to vegetables
  • Menu items are oven-baked, not deep fat fried
  • Hot rolls are not brushed with butter
  • Many whole grain options available, for example: brown rice, whole wheat bread products, even whole grain corndogs

On the Serving Line

  • Go, Slow and Whoa food identifiers posted daily to advise student of more healthful food choices
  • 1% milk served in white, chocolate & strawberry; skim milk served in white
  • Offer versus serve; students are able to choose items placed on their tray
  • At a minimum, 2 fruit and 3 vegetable choices are offered daily for lunch
  • Fruits are enjoyed as the sweet ending to the meal instead of a traditional high-calorie, high-fat dessert

CATCH Menu Key

LISD participates in the Eat Smart program of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program. LISD school menus meet the standards of CATCH providing students the opportunity to select mostly “GO” foods, some “SLOW” foods and only rarely a “WHOA”.

Entrees are specially purchased and prepared as lower fat, healthier versions of student favorites. Our pizza is made with low fat mozzarella cheese and whole wheat flour. All hot dogs, corn dogs and deli meats are made with turkey. Vegetables are seasoned without butter or margarine. The French Fries are never fried and only contain 5 gm of fat. We offer at least one whole grain item and one vegetarian item every day. Fresh fruit is available daily for breakfast and lunch.

*Additional nutrition information can be found on the Child Nutrition Services page.