Health Services: Eat Smart - CATCH

Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH)

CATCH is a school-based program to increase healthy eating and physical activity in elementary students. All District One elementary and middle schools have adopted the program.

Through CATCH children and their families learn how to be healthy for a lifetime. This program builds an alliance among parents, teachers, child nutrition personnel, school staff, and other community partners.

The four components
What kids think
Information for parents
Missoula CATCH Coordinator
Missoula County School Wellness
Related websites

Here's what students from Franklin Elementary had had to say about the program:

“Without you, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between sometimes foods and everyday foods” (Galen B)
“It was fun when we read the [food] labels” (Yvonne C)
“You taught us to go for goals” (Greg)
“I’ll eat a lot of fruits and vegetables” (Jojo)

The components of CATCH

CATCH PE - Physical Activity
Go for Health - Classroom Curriculum
Eat Smart - School Nutrition
Home Team - Family Activities
Middle school program
CATCH Kids Club - after-school and summer programs

Missoula students in the CATCH program showed a 240% improvement in knowledge based upon the pre-and post-tests.

What kids think

“I had a fortune cookie once and it said ‘Try it you might like it’ and that’s the way it was with this.” – Brandon, 3rd grade, Lewis and Clark, after trying the berry medley salad.

Lisa Tims has visited our elementary schools and talked to the children about some of the new foods on school menus. Here's how students felt:

Food Survey: Elementary Students
Food Tested	# of Students Surveyed	"I liked it"	"It was okay"	"I didn't like it"
Fresh Garden Salad	173	68%	19%	13%
Tangy Cherry Salad	45	66%	18%	18%
Berry Medley Salad	87	80%	12%	8%
Egg and Cheese Omelet	220	89%	8%	3%

Information for parents

What we know about kids and food:

Children have to try the same food 10 - 15 times before they will develop a like or dislike for it.
Positive peer pressure works. Children are more willing to try something another child likes.
Kids will ask their parents to buy healthy foods that they have tried at school.
For a home-packed lunch: