Today, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Heart Association released a national poll that shows that the vast majority of parents of school-age children support having strong national nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools.

I hope you will use the findings to help get the word out about USDA’s new Smart Snacks standards that are going into effect as kids go back to school this year, which are leading to improvements in snacks and beverages sold through vending machines, school stores, and a la carte in cafeteria, and to counter opposition that school meals have been facing.

Below are some model social media and other materials from Pew:

- National press release and data: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases/2014/09/08/parents-support-healthier-school-food-policies-by-3to1-margin
- Infographic: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/data-visualizations/2014/parents-support-healthier-school-food-standards
- GA poll results: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/news/2014/09/08/georgia-parents-favor-school-nutrition-standards
- SC poll results: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/news/2014/09/08/parents-in-south-carolina-support-healthy-school-food-policies

SAMPLE WEB/NEWSLETTER TEXT

The vast majority of parents of school-aged children support strong nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold to students during school, according to a new poll by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Heart Association. The findings come as school districts across the country implement the “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards, which set basic limits on the fat, salt, and calories in foods and beverages sold through vending machines, school stores, and a la carte cafeteria menus.

The nationally representative poll assessed parents’ opinions of nutrition standards for both school meals and snack foods and beverages sold to students. Learn more about the findings. [Either hyperlink the last sentence to more information, or post the key findings].


SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES

Facebook (use links for graphics or photos see www.pinterest.com/cspinutrition/school-food/)
72% of parents favor standards for school meals and school snacks. Smart Snack standards give parents what they know is best for their children. http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/data-visualizations/2014/parents-support-healthier-school-food-standards

Most parents favor nutrition standards for all food sold to students. National nutrition standards are in place to make sure our children are healthy and ready to learn. http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/data-visualizations/2014/parents-support-healthier-school-food-standards

Did you know? 91% of parents support requiring schools to serve fruits or vegetables with every meal. http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/data-visualizations/2014/parents-support-healthier-school-food-standards

Parents on both sides of the aisle support school nutrition standards, a new poll finds. http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/data-visualizations/2014/parents-support-healthier-school-food-standards

Twitter
91% of parents support requiring schools to serve fruits or vegetables with every meal: bit.ly/1nIHVQK #SmartSnacks #back2school

75% of parents think salt should be limited in school meals: bit.ly/1nIHVQK #schoolnutrition #back2school

New poll: Parents on both sides of the aisle support #schoolnutrition standards: bit.ly/1nIHVQK #back2school

80% of parents are concerned with the state of children’s health: bit.ly/1nIHVQK #back2school #schoolnutrition

74% of parents are concerned about childhood obesity: bit.ly/1nIHVQK #back2school #schoolnutrition