504.5R1 Other School-Based Activities to Promote Student Wellness

Foods Sold Outside the Meal

Foods and beverages sold individually outside the reimbursable meal programs (including a la carte) during the school day should meet the following nutrition and portion-size standards:

Beverages that are encouraged: Water, seltzer, water without added caloric sweeteners, fruit and vegetable juices, fruit drinks containing 100% fruit juice, unflavored or flavored low-fat or fat-free milk.

Beverages that are to be discouraged:  Sports drinks, beverages with caffeine excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.

Food items should have

  • No more than 35% of its calories from fat (excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter and other nut butters)
  • No more than 35% of its weight from added sugars

                                                               

Fundraising Activities

To support children’s health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities will be encouraged to promote physical activity and healthful eating choices and will comply with the Healthy Kids Act (No bake sales, unless meet HKA and Smart Snacks dietary guidelines from midnight until 30 minutes from the last bell).

Rewards

The school district will encourage staff to not use foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually, as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages as a punishment.

Food Marketing in Schools

School-based marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. The district will encourage school marketing of brands promoting healthy foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products and market activities that promote healthful behaviors.

Classroom Snacks/Parties

Snacks served in the classroom should be fresh fruit/vegetables or prepackaged items (Prepackaged:  items that are prepared in a licensed facility).  No home prepared food products.  The School district will encourage non-food items as treats.  Beverages offered in the classroom or as a snack should be water, milk or 100% fruit/vegetable juice.

Communication with Parents

 The school district will:

  • Send home nutrition information and post nutrition tips on school web sites
  • Encourage parents to pack healthy lunches, snacks and beverages and to refrain from foods that do not meet the established nutrition standards for individual foods and beverages
  • Provide a list of foods that meet the school district’s snack standards and ideas for healthy celebrations/parties, rewards and fundraising activities

Sharing of Foods

The school district discourages students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times, given concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some children’s diets.

Plan for Measuring Implementation

Monitoring

The superintendent or designated staff member will ensure compliance with established school district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies.  The district will

  • Ensure compliance with health and wellness policies in the school
  • Ensure compliance with nutrition policies within food service areas and will report on this matter.
  • Report on the most recent USDA School Meals Initiative (SMI) review findings and any resulting changes. 
  • Report annually to the board of education on the status of the health and wellness of the school and district-wide compliance with the established nutrition and physical activity wellness policies.

In each school:

  • The Principal will ensure compliance with those policies in the school and will report on the school’s compliance to the superintendent; and,
  • Food service staff, at the school district, will ensure compliance with nutrition policies within food service areas and will report on this matter to the superintendent or principal.

 The Wellness Committee shall be appointed each year.  Membership will include:

  • 1 building principal
  • Curriculum director
  • Food service representative
  • 1 PE/Health instructor
  • School nurse
  • Board member
  • Representatives from the Student Council (students)
  • Persons that would give representation of parents

 

Policy Review

Program review will be completed every 4 years. This will include but not limited to review policy compliance, assessing progress toward school goals and determining areas in need of improvement.  As part of that review, the school district will review the nutrition and physical activity policies and practices and the provision of an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity.  The school district will revise the wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation.

 

 

Approved:        9/17/97                                                  Reviewed:      1/9/2018                                                        Revised:     10/12/15