GPRA 6. Number and percent of children who consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Definition. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) contains a nationally validated set of survey questions about fruit/vegetable consumption for youth. However, it asks about the number of times a day each youth consumed fruits and vegetables during the previous week rather than the number of daily servings (as the original GPRA was written). Promise Neighborhoods should collect information about the number of times a day middle and high school students at the target Promise Neighborhood schools consumed fruits and vegetables during the past seven days instead of using these questions.

Data is from the annual School Climate and Connectedness Survey. The survey asks family members "Does your child eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day?" Answer options are "yes," "no," or "I don't know." This indicator reports the percent of respondents who answered "yes" to this question.

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STEPS AK did not participate in any dedicated food service programs this year. Each district participates in the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and many districts participate in the Breakfast and Summer Foods Programs.

Various cultural and STEAM programs offered food and/or nutrition education for families:

Juneau: Haa Tooch Licheesh offered classes on wellness and blending teas. AWARE and Tlingit and Haida hosted several classes on plant identification and food harvesting including a plant symposium in May of 2022. The participants learned more about fresh harvestable plants and animals and how to weave that into classroom teaching.

Chatham: Chatham incorporated food sovereignty and harvesting into their STEM/ STEAM classes and summer camps. Students also participated in culinary classes to learn how to prepare food as a part of their job preparation programs. Students and their family harvested food together during family activities.

Hoonah: Students helped with the new community garden and prepared food during their school and summer STEAM/cultural programs.

Hydaburg: Students learned about harvesting eggs, seaweed, and preparing fish. Students collected berries and used foods to improve their literacy, language and science skills.

Data for this indicator is from the School Climate and Connectedness Survey. The most recent data and analysis was shared in our previous report.

This was not one of the primary strategies AASB focused on for the Promise Neighborhoods proposal, but we did prioritize food security during COVID-19 when families were in distress. Over the past three years, STEPS partners have been very effective in coordinating food distribution, utilizing both federal funding as well as community programs to address family needs.

We know that in many of our communities by the time fresh produce arrives in communities barged from the lower 48 it is not in very good condition. The most effective strategies encourage locally sustainable growing and harvesting methods. We are thankful for our non-funded partners Spruce Root and Sustainable Southeast Partners who have decided to take the lead on moving this strategy. They have established classes and actions related to food sovereignty.

Food is not only important to the nutritional health of Southeast children and families but it is a part of the Tlingit and Haida identities. The goal is to decrease dependence on outside food sources and eliminate waste. Specifically, there are strategies (primarily match activities) that have been developed to promote knowledge and skill-sharing networks, advocacy to support tribal food sovereignty, cultivate place-based food enterprises and improve household health. In addition, harvesting can take more than the knowledge and confidence to harvest, but also require the right seasonal gear.  Many of our programs offer boots, life vests, rain gear or materials to ensure health and safety while harvesting.

STEPS partners will continue to embed food within STEM/ STEAM/ Place-based learning programs. The plant symposium and harvesting activities in each of our communities were a great success and we will continue to link food to learning to both increase the health and well-being of students and their families and to provide an engaging platform for learning.