1. HealthierUS School Challenge
Marlene Stein, Program Specialist (SMI, HUSSC)
Steve Bergonzoni, Nutritionist (HUSSC, SMI)
Spring 2011

2. Childhood Obesity Initiative
1. Help parents make
healthy choices
2. Serve healthier food in
schools
3. Improve access and
affordability of healthy
food
4. Increase physical activity
Announced on February 9th --- Let’s Move: American’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids
Complete details can be found on the website: www. letsmove.gov
Includes four components: Healthy Choices, Healthier Schools, Physical Activity, Accessible and Affordable Healthy Food.
HUSSC is a component of the initiative,
Working with many federal agencies including Education/Health and Human Services
Opportunities for Partnerships with many groups and organizations
America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids

3. Helps chefs partner with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices.

4. HUSSC Goal
Improve the health of the nation’s children by promoting healthier school environments.
The overarching goal of the HUSSC is to improve the health of the nation’s children by promoting healthier school environments. To help meet the goal, FNS identifies schools that have made changes to the school nutrition environment to
improve the quality of the foods served,
provide students with nutrition education and
provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.

5. HUSSC Awardees Have Made Changes to
Improve the quality of the foods served.
Provide students with nutrition education.
Provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.
The overarching goal of the HUSSC is to improve the health of the nation’s children by promoting healthier school environments. To help meet the goal, FNS identifies schools that have made changes to the school nutrition environment to
improve the quality of the foods served,
provide students with nutrition education and
provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.
“Students often consume up to 50% of their daily calories at school.”
Source: Alliance for a Healthier Generation website, April 30, 2010.

6. Incentives $2,000 Gold of Distinction $1,500 Gold $1,000 Silver
$ Bronze
$5,000 total possible
We are supporting a number of strategies to assist in encouraging schools to apply and receive HUSSC awards.
There are monetary incentives for schools:
$2,000 Gold of Distinction
$1,500 Gold
$1,000 Silver
$ Bronze
Minimum 1 year between awards – start March 2011

7. Enhanced Awards Gold Award of Distinction
Possible visit by government dignitaries
Gold medals for HUSSC Team Members and Food Service Staff in Gold of Distinction Schools
Enhanced Award for Gold of Distinction Schools
Enhanced Award for Food Service Director with 10 or more award winning schools
Schools may be selected for visit by the First Lady or USDA officials

8. Who needs to be involved at the school?
A review team of at least:
School foodservice manager and district-level foodservice director
Team Nutrition School Leader
Parent organization representative (e.g., PTA/PTO)
School nurse, Coordinated School Health staff, Physical Education (PE), or classroom teacher
Principal or other administrator
At _(insert name of school or district)_ , we welcome the involvement of the entire community in creating a healthy school environment - and sincerely hope that you will become part of the solution at our school.
In terms of the HealthierUS School Challenge, USDA requires certain signatures on the application, so - at a minimum - we need the following individuals to be part of our school-based review team. The time commitment for the one-time review will be minimal:
School foodservice manager and district-level foodservice director
Team Nutrition School Leader
Parent organization representative (e.g., PTA/PTO)
School nurse, Coordinated School Health staff, Physical Education (PE) or classroom teacher
Principal or other administrator
You are one of the most important group of people to help us meet the Challenge! 8

9. HUSSC Areas
Menus and Foods Nutrition Education Physical Education/Activity Fund Raising Wellness Policy

10. http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/healthierUS/elem_chart.pdf Summary
Charts
at HUSSC
Website

11. Available from Regional Office: steve.bergonzoni@fns.usda.gov

12. The Challenge Menu Criteria
Offer a different vegetable each day of the week
Of these 5 vegetables, three must be dark green or orange
Let’s look briefly at the school lunch menu criteria and modifications that may have to be made to your menus.
Changes required for HealthierUS School Challenge go beyond the federal minimum requirements for school meal reimbursement but the changes reflect what the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are recommending for all Americans.
We must offer a different vegetable each day of the week to provide a wider variety and more vegetables. What is meant by “different”? Think about the vegetable source of the menu item. Glazed carrots and carrot sticks are from the same vegetable, not different vegetables. Curly fries, tater tots, baked potatoes, and mashed potatoes are all from potatoes. Only 1 of the carrot products and only 1 of the potato products would count towards this HealthierUS School Challenge criteria.
Minimum serving = ¼ cup

13. The Challenge Menu Criteria
A serving of cooked dry beans or peas must be offered each week
The Dietary Guidelines is now encouraging Americans to consume more legumes or dry beans and peas. The Challenge requires a minimum serving of ¼ cup once each week.
Dry beans and peas provide a good quality protein, are low in fat, high in fiber, and rich in unique nutrients.
What are some dry beans and peas?
Red kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, black beans, mature dry lima beans, garbanzo beans or chickpeas, etc.
These beans and peas can either be prepared from the dry beans and peas that usually come in sacks; OR
They can be purchased already cooked and processed in cans. Examples of these are pork and beans, canned red beans or black beans, garbanzo beans, refried beans, etc.
Please note that baby green lima beans and green peas are classified as starchy vegetable, not as a dry bean or pea.
Minimum serving = ¼ cup

14. The Challenge Menu Criteria
Offer a different fruit each day of the week
Fresh fruit must be offered weekly:
One day per week for Bronze and Silver awards
Two days per week for Gold and Gold of Distinction awards
The Challenge criteria also requires a wider variety of fruit to offer children a variety of nutrients and to help develop a lifetime habit of eating fruit.
Vegetables and fruits are now known to prevent many kinds of cancers.
As with vegetables, a different fruit is to be offered daily. Fresh apple, apple juice, and applesauce are all from the same fruit. Only 1 of the apple products can count toward the HUSSC criteria. Look for variety when planning menus! Serving sizes must be a minimum of ¼ cup.
Fruit juice can only be counted as a fruit or vegetable serving 1 day a week. Do you know why?
Because juices have less fiber, and therefore more natural sugar and more calories.
Minimum serving = ¼ cup
Juice can only be counted once per week

15. The Challenge Menu Criteria
More whole-grain products
A serving each day for the Gold awards.
A serving 3 times a week for the Silver and Bronze awards.
Offer a variety of whole-grain products (not the same one each day).
Whole grain definition
A. first ingredient
B. first grain ingredient
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommends that half our grains should be whole-grains.
The Challenge criteria requires schools to be doing there part in promoting whole grains to children.
For either of the Gold awards, a serving of a whole-grain product is required each day.
For either Bronze or Silver awards, a serving of a whole-grain product must be offered 3 times per week.
A serving of a whole-grain product is the same as a Grains/Bread serving in the Food Buying Guide.
Schools are encouraged to offer a variety of whole-grain products, i.e. not the same one each day. For example, one day in a school week, whole-wheat hamburger buns are offered; the next day, brown rice is offered.
There is more training available for you on whole grains, developed by USDA and NFSMI, but to keep this presentation short, we won’t be going into that much detail today.

16. Whole Grains Beware of These Terms (They do not mean Whole Grain)
Enriched Multi-grain Wheat
Unbleached Unbromated Natural
Organic All Purpose Pearled Stone Ground
100% Wheat Durum Couscous Grain
Semolina Made with Whole Grains

17. Package Labels (Photocopies or Scans)
Preferred for Nutrition Facts and Ingredients:
Competitive foods, a la carte
Whole grains, some cooked beans and dark green/orange vegetables
Why?
Package labels are regulated by the FDA,
Accuracy assured

18. SP Whole Wheat Loaf – 2lb F1300
Ingredients: Filtered Water, Whole Wheat Flour, Unbleached, Unbromated Wheat Flour (Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron (reduced), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid), Levain, Sugar, Salt, Yeast, Gluten, Canola Oil, Cultured Wheat Flour, Deactivated Yeast, Enzymes

19. CN Label Not whole grain: * Enriched does not mean whole grain
* “Whole” is missing
CN labels can help menu planners with meeting Meal Pattern serving requirements.
Although 1 ¼ servings of grain/bread and 1/8 cup of vegetable are in a 3.5 ounces portion, it has only 1 ounce of meat alternate.
For HUSSC, this product would contribute to the vegetable component but would not be a Whole Grain (enriched wheat flour is not a Whole Grain).

20. The Challenge Menu Criteria
Offer only low-fat (<1%) and fat-free (skim) milk
Flavored or unflavored
The Dietary Guidelines recommend that all Americans, over the age of 2, consume low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products. Low-fat milk has 1% fat; fat-free milk is the same as skim milk. Flavored or unflavored (low-fat or fat-free) milk may be served.
In addition, USDA-approved alternate milk beverages may be served.

21. Documentation to Prove the Right Type of Milks
(as a Beverage) Were Served
Preferred: The varieties are listed on the production record.
List the number servings of each type.
Bronze awards (no production records submitted)
On the menu , list as a footnote, the varieties of milk available.
For example: 1%, 1% chocolate, skim.
Another option: provide photocopies of all milk labels (front, showing name and serving size). Production records indicate “milk” was served.
Another, provide photocopy of invoice or purchase order that lists the milk varieties.
For the dates of the HUSSC served menu.

22. HUSSC Application
Page 1

24. Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Week 1
Pig in a WG Blanket
Potato Wedges
Broccoli w/cheese
Fresh Apple
Milk
Chicken WG Wrap
Lettuce & Tomato
Spanish Rice
Steamed Carrots
Tropical Fruit
WG Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce
Garden Spinach Salad
Italian Bread
Sliced Peaches
Taco Salad
Whole Grain Corn Tortilla Chips
Salsa
Refried Beans
Pineapple Rings
Baked Chicken
Snap Peas
Whole Wheat Roll
Orange Wedges
Week 2
Hamburger on WG Bun
Sweet Potato Oven Fries
Fruit Cocktail
Chicken Nuggets
Mashed Potato
Fresh Broccoli w/dip
Strawberries & Banana
Turkey & Bean Chili
Whole Grain Corn Chips
Celery & Cucumbers
Orange Slices
Pork Rib on
Whole Wheat Bun
Corn
Fresh Kiwi
Cheesy Ground Beef and Whole Grain Pasta
Fresh Baby Carrots /Dip
Apple Slices
Week 3
Hot Ham & Cheese on
Whole Wheat bun
Fresh Broccoli
Fresh Grapes
Whole Grain Cheese Pizza
Tossed Salad w/Romaine
Banana
Taco Burger on a Bun
Black Bean & Corn Salsa w/ Whole Grain Corn Tortilla Chips
Sliced Pears
Italian WG Pasta Bake
Green Pepper Strips & Baby Carrots
Applesauce
Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Patty on Bun
Brown Rice
Green Beans
Week 4
Beef & Bean Burrito
Mexican Corn Salsa & Whole Grain Corn Tortilla Chips
Chicken Fajita Wrap w/Whole Grain Tortilla
Fresh Carrots
Fresh Strawberries & Blueberries
BBQ Beef on Whole Wheat Bun
Baked Beans
Mandarin Oranges
Turkey & Cheese WG Sub
Romaine Lettuce & Tomato
BBQ Chicken
California Blend Vegetables
Week 5
Cold Ham and Cheese w/Romaine lettuce on 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Pork and Beans
Diced Peaches
Whole Grain Chicken Corn
Dog
Carrot Sticks
Grilled Cheese Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread
Broccoli Florets / Dip
*All Bread, Breading and Pasta are Whole Grain
*All Meals are Served with choice of fat-free (skim) or 1% milk
Offer a different vegetable every day of the week. All servings must be at least ¼ cup.
Dark green or orange vegetables must be offered 3 or more days per week (of the 3, at least 2 must be different).
#Combination blends need product label/recipe to indicate dark green/orange vegetable is contained in the product.
Cooked dry beans or peas (legumes) must be offered each week (includes canned dry beans and peas).
Offer a different fruit every day of the week, offer fresh fruit at least 2 days a week. All servings must be at least ¼ cup.
Canned fruit must be packed in juice or light syrup. 100% juice can only be counted as a fruit once per week.
Offer whole grain foods each day (a serving is equal to a serving of Grains/Breads as defined in the USDA Food Buying Guide, pages ).
The majority of whole grain foods products served must have the whole grain(s) listed first in the ingredient statement. Other whole grain servings must have whole grain as the primary grain ingredient. (WG – whole grain)
Offer each day only low fat (1% or less) and fat-free (skim) fluid milk, flavored or unflavored.
For Gold of Distinction, no “token” foods are allowed (a token food is a HUSSC food on the menu in which less than 10% of the students take on a regular basis).

25. Competitive Foods
Total fat <35% calories
Trans fat <0.5 gram
Saturated fat <10% calories
Sugar <35% weight
Sodium <480 mg, <600 mg entrée; <200 mg, <480 mg entrée
Portion size/Calories NSLP size, or <200 calories
Beverages <1% milk, 100% juice, serving size limit; water
Components of a reimbursable meal sold a la carte at NSLP serving sizes will NOT be considered competitive foods - NEW

26. Simplified School District Application
If there are more than one school applying from
one district, using the same menu and foods,
those schools may submit a simplified application.
One Application Cover Sheet (or directory with the required information for each school)
One set of Menu Worksheets
One set of recipes, food product ingredient statements, and/or Nutrition Facts Labels
District-wide Nutrition Education and Physical Education/Activity Worksheets

27. Simplified School District Application
Cover Sheet or School District Listing

28. Application Updates
Page 12:

29. Frequently Asked Questions
Application Procedures
Menu Criteria
Fruits and Vegetables
Whole Grains
Milk
Nutrition Education and Physical Activity
Competitive Foods and Beverages (Including a la carte and/or vended items)
Participation
Recognition
Recordkeeping/Documentation

30. Resources http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/