Meet a woman who says "wow!" a lot. And for good reason. Yvonne Sanders-Butler is the principal of Browns Mill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia, the only sugar-free school in the United States. Previously overweight and unhealthy, Dr. Butler had a near-death experience a number of years ago and came back determined to make a difference in the world. She has been "wowing" folks ever since.
"Browns Mill is a high achievers school," Dr. Butler explained. "But I noticed that the children were sluggish. How could they be performing their best if they were sluggish?"
Dr. Butler also noticed that clinic visits were up first thing in the morning and right after lunch. What was going on?
One look around made it clear. About 40% of her kindergarteners were overweight, and the numbers only got worse from there. Many of the students didn't eat breakfast. Lunch choices were high-fat and high-sugar. Change needed to happen, and it needed to happen immediately.
"I couldn't sit back and just watch, knowing I could have made a difference."
Dr. Butler implemented the Sugar-Free Zone; got rid of all sodas in the machines; nixed the chocolate milk; threw out the fried and high-fat foods; added daily PE, nutrition education, cooking classes, and one of my favorite details, ten minutes of dance every morning in every classroom right after morning announcements; and even said "see ya'" to food kids brought from home that did not fit in as healthy choices.
The results over these last eight years? The 40% of kindergarteners who come to her overweight leave her at a normal weight. Test scores are up, clinic visits are down, discipline problems are minimal, and she has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school system. Not to mention lives.
"I'm not a scientist. I'm not a nutritionist. I'm not a dietician," explained Dr. Butler. "But now people who never would have invited me to the table want to talk to me. Because what we are doing is working."
And so, I share the story of Browns Mill Elementary to kick off National School Lunch Week. And I invite you to have lunch at your child's school. To look, see, taste and think about what we're doing as a society for our children. And to ask yourself if we are doing our best. Because if we are not, how can they?
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4 comments:
That lady should be given a medal. Slowly things are changing for the better at last, don't you think ?
Bravo to Dr. Butler!
Making changes.
Making a difference.
Making the planet a better place!
Wow! This is amazing! Dr. Butler, please contact www.dinnergarden.org! We would love to send you seeds so you all can start a garden!
This is great. Schools can provide better lunches and model healthy food choices without breaking the bank.
-R
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