Horizon Software International Launches HealthSmart Curriculum to Combat Childhood Obesity

Strategic Insights -

Horizon Software International, a leading provider of software and services for food service operations, has introduced HealthSmart, a comprehensive nutrition and activity curriculum designed to help students develop healthy eating habits and combat childhood obesity. The student-driven curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of students aged 4-12, offering two versions: "Good Food and Play Make a Balanced Day" for students aged 7-12 and "Good Food and Play, Junior" for students aged 4-7. Both versions are available in Spanish.

Key Takeaways:

  • HealthSmart is a comprehensive nutrition and activity curriculum designed to help students develop healthy eating habits and combat childhood obesity.
  • The curriculum is student-driven, requiring minimal classroom time from teachers and utilizing interactive CDs for learning.
  • HealthSmart provides a separate program for each grade level, from K-12, and has been reviewed by the nutrition committee of the U.S. School Nutrition Association (SNA) and Dr. Yvonne Bronner, an expert in nutrition and health.
  • After participating in the 3-week HealthSmart curriculum course, students showed an average increase of 30 percentage points in their post test scores.
  • The Child Nutrition Foundation (part of the SNA) has partnered with Horizon Software to promote HealthSmart to its 55,000 members across the country.
  • The curriculum presents current nutrition and activity information in a format that uses videos, games, and quizzes to reinforce learning.
  • HealthSmart pilot tests were conducted in schools across the country earlier this year, beginning with pretesting students for nutrition skills.
  • The curriculum is designed to be a valuable resource for teachers and students, providing background information, lesson plans, classroom discussions, and student activities and worksheets on CDs.

Statistics:

  • Average increase in post test scores: 30 percentage points
  • Number of students: unknown
  • Grade levels (K-12): included in HealthSmart curriculum
  • Time period (3 weeks): duration of HealthSmart curriculum course
  • Number of pilot schools: unknown
  • Number of members in the Child Nutrition Foundation (SNA): 55,000
  • Age ranges for curriculum versions: 4-7 (Good Food and Play, Junior) and 7-12 (Good Food and Play Make a Balanced Day)

Sources:

  • Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com, 2005
  • School Nutrition Association (SNA)
  • Horizon Software International
  • Child Nutrition Foundation