The Grocery Manufacturers Association this week received the American Dietetic Association Foundation 2008 Corporate Award for its contribution and commitment to support the mission and vision of the foundation and for its role in promoting healthy lifestyles for schoolchildren and their families.

GMA s.v.p. and chief government affairs officer Mary Sophos accepted the award during ADA's Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Chicago.

"GMA and its member companies are committed to helping Americans live healthy lifestyles," said Sophos. "This is a top priority for the food and beverage industry."

Last year GMA and the food and beverage industry, via the American Council on Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) in partnership with PE4Life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF), rolled out the "Healthy Schools Partnership" (HSP) pilot program in four Kansas City-area schools. Over 1,000 students in 5th through 9th grades participated in the 12-week pilot during the fall of 2007.

To deliver the program's educational components, seven registered dietitian nutrition coaches worked in tandem with the schools' physical education teachers. HSP teaches the importance of calories and energy balance through interactive physical education classes and weekly nutrition topics.