APS Food & Nutrition Services

NEWS RELEASE March 24, 2008

Albuquerque Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services is announcing the winners of the "Pink Flamingo Promotion" launched on November 1, 2007 to encourage district students to eat school-provided breakfast and lunch and school attendance. "School meals are nutritionally well balanced," said Mary Swift, Director of Food and Nutrition services. "All kids need to eat, and we're trying to get them to make healthier food choices."

Schools meals today follow federal nutrition guidelines and serve more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy than ever before. Through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and National School Breakfast Program (SBP) APS nutrition professionals are preparing and serving balanced, nutritious meals that provide needed nutrients and promote healthy childhood weight. Students who eat meals served through the NSLP and SBP are more likely to be at a healthy weight according to the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Magazine (August 2003).

Winners were chosen on the basis of least absences and highest meal participation. Meal participation was verified by Sheri Duran and Kathy Pitts using Winsnap software.

Bicycles will be awarded to students in the elementary grades as follows: Longfellow Elementary led the contest with three (3) students winning bikes. The students are: Ivan Reyes, Tania Gonzalez, and Vicente Jiron. They will be presented with their prizes on April 1 in the school cafeteria.

Alvarado Elementary has two winners, they are: Somny Phaybouth and Alena Keovannala. San Antonito had one winner: Angel Rael. Cochiti Elementary's Rebecca Trujillo is also a winner!

Student David Shelly, was top contestant at SY Jackson with 144 meals eaten by March 6.

Edward Gonzales Elementary had two winners: Damian Chavez and Alexis Chavira. They also had five (5) runners up that will receive a sports bag with sports balls and mugs.

Nano IPODS will be awarded as follows: Patrick Shay and Vincent Garcia from Kennedy Middle School; Travis Wioskowski and Anthony Wioskowski from Jackson Middle School.

David M. Roberts and Huong Nguyen from Highland High School made the grade!

Manzano High School's winners are Abigail Butler, Anthony Heitzinger, Morria Plante. Wilson winners are Ricardo Tellez, Ivan Castillo and Manuel Luna.

Cleveland's Matthew Kelly and Alec White are also winners. West Mesa's Shene Yazzie also took the prize!

The 2001 School Nutrition and Dietary Assessment II study based on research by the USDA found that NSLP participation is associated with higher average intakes of vegetables, milk, and meat and other protein-rich foods, both at lunch and over 24 hours. Participants also consume substantially less soda and added sugars than do non-participants. So, our winners are not only getting bikes and ipods, they are benefiting from a higher nutrient intake.

CONGRATULATIONS! To all the winners. And a lifelong commitment to making healthier food choices!