CHILDREN MUST
BE HEALTHY TO
LEARN …
AND CHILDREN
MUST LEARN TO
BE HEALTHY.
Wellness/Nutrition Policy
Requirements
Presented by the New Jersey Department
of Agriculture
Winter 2007
School Wellness/Nutrition Policies
Healthy People 2010
“Schools have more influence
on the lives of young people
than any other social
institution except the
family, and provide a setting
in which friendship
networks develop,
socialization occurs, and
norms that govern behavior
are developed and
reinforced.”
Fast forward to the Future
American children
are growing up to
face increasing
rates of obesity
and chronic disease.
Why School Wellness?
Health and Success in School are
Interrelated!
Schools cannot achieve their primary mission of
education if students and staff are not healthy
and fit physically, mentally and socially…
The nation's leading health authorities
recommend that schools take an active role in
preventing disabling chronic health conditions
that create misery and consume a burdensome
share of the nation's resources.
National Association of State Boards of Education; Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn, 2000
FEDERAL
Regulations Require…
• Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act signed
June 2004
• USDA has required that Local Education
Agencies (LEAs) participating in any federally
funded Child Nutrition programs adopt a
Local Wellness Policy by September 2006.
STATE
Regulations Require…
• New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C
2:36) requires child nutrition program
sponsors and other public schools with
5% or more students eligible for free or
reduced price meals to:
Adopt a Nutrition Policy by September 2006
Adopt N J Model School Nutrition Policy by
September 2007.
By September 2006,
Local LEAs were
required to…
• Develop one Local Policy to meet BOTH
Federal and State Requirements:
Option 1:
– Adopt N J Model School Nutrition Policy,
meeting minimum requirement of federal
Local Wellness Policy….
OR
Option 2:
• Develop own policy that
– Meets federal wellness policy guidelines:
1) Goals for nutrition education and physical
activity
2) Nutrition standards for food/beverages
available in school
3) School based activities that promote student
wellness
- Meets state requirements for 2006:
1) Address the dining environment
2) Adequate time for meal service and
consumption
3) Coordination of lunch and recess or physical
education schedules.
By September 2007,
Local LEAs must…
• Implement policy consistent with N J Model
School Nutrition Policy.
• If district chose Option 1 in 2006:
– Minimum requirements have been met
– Continue to enhance
• If district chose Option 2 in 2006:
– Adopt NJ Policy in its entirety
– Continue to enhance
Additional
Requirements
• Involve a team to develop, maintain, and
evaluate the policy:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Parents
Students
Food service representative
School board
School administrator, teacher, nurse
Community member
Additional
Requirements
 Designation of person/s responsible for ensuring
implementation of the policy
 Evaluate the policy
 Available tools:
Wellness Policy Evaluation Tool (NJ Dept. of
Agric.)
Changing the Scene Improvement Checklist
(USDA; Team Nutrition)
School Health Index (Center for Disease Control;
CDC)
Components of a Wellness Policy
 Goals for Nutrition Education
 Goals for Physical Activity
 Nutrition standards for foods and
beverages available at school
 Other school-based activities that promote
student wellness
Notification and Training
for Local Districts
• April 2005 - Federal wellness policy requirement
announced at Reauthorization Workshops
• Sept 2005 – Memo notifying districts of both federal
and state requirements
• March 2006 – 16 workshops throughout the state on
development of policies
• June 2006 – Reminder memo to districts of the
requirements
• Spring 2007 – Regional workshops planned on policy
implementation
Implemention of the
Wellness Policy
 Requires good planning and management skills
 Consistent oversight
 Requires widespread buy-in by school staff and
local community
Questions and Solutions
• School Parties
• Fundraising
• Classroom Rewards
• Food for Meetings & Activities
School Parties
• Celebrate with healthy snacks:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Animal crackers
Baked chips
100% fruit juices
Pudding
Soft pretzels
Fundraising
• Sell non-food items
• Walk-a-thons (also promotes physical
activity!)
• Raffles
• Sell cookbooks, decorations, stickers
• Sell fruit and nut baskets
• Flea markets
Classroom Rewards
• Alternatives to food as a reward:
–
–
–
–
–
Extra art time
Time to play a computer game
No-homework pass
Earn play money for privileges
Extra recess time (also promotes physical
activity!)
– Listen to music while working
Food for Meetings
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Yogurt
Mini bagels, with low fat cream cheese
Granola Bars
Soft Pretzels
100% juices, bottled water
Trail mix
NJ Schools at a Glance…
• All districts participating in any Federal
Child Nutrition Program have submitted
copies of their policies to Dept. of
Agriculture
• Districts have provided person/s
responsible for policy
implementation
NJ Schools at a Glance…
• For the 2006-2007 school year:
– 326 (57%) districts have adopted the NJ
Model School Nutrition Policy
– 247 (43%) districts have developed their
own local wellness policy
Compliance Monitoring
• Jurisdiction falls under the Department of
Agriculture:
– Certification of policy adoption signed by
authorized representative of the district
– Copy of board approved policy collected by
the DOA
– On site monitoring as part of school meal
programs regular review process, every 4-5
years
Non-Compliant Schools
• School districts will not be permitted to
participate and receive funding for the
school meal programs at the start of the
new school year.
• Mid-year, reimbursement will be withheld
if schools are found not to be in
compliance with their wellness/nutrition
policy
Related Issues
•
•
•
•
•
Food Allergies
Biosecurity
School Breakfast Programs
Scheduling/time to eat
Open campus
Can Schools Improve
Nutrition Standards
AND
Maintain Revenues?
YES!


Studies have shown that changing over
to healthy options corresponds to
increased meal participation levels,
outweighing any slight revenue reduction
in a la carte sales.
Students will buy and consume healthful
foods and beverages—and schools can
make money from selling healthful
options.
Implement
Evaluate
Improve
Keep the cycle going…