1. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org An Introduction To School Nutrition Policy School District Date

2. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Agenda The facts about school meals School wellness policies School nutrition policy issues Priorities moving forward

3. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Breakfast Increasing participation in SBP –9.3 million children served daily* 4.5% growth from 2004 –1.6 billion breakfasts served annually –22% of kids don’t eat breakfast on school days** Our state’s School Breakfast Participation *Source: SNA Little Big Fact Book 2006 **Source: Weekly Reader Research, 10/19/2006 School Meals – The Facts

4. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Lunch Increasing participation in NSLP –29.6 million children served daily 1.7% growth from 2004 95% of schools participate in NSLP –4.9 billion lunches served annually Our state’s School Lunch Program *Source: SNA Little Big Fact Book 2006 School Meals – The Facts

5. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School meals have come a long way! Today, kids are offered healthy, tasty and appealing choices: –Fresh fruits and vegetables –Whole grains –Reduced TransFats –Pizza with whole wheat crust, low-fat cheese –Baked items rather than fried –Healthful cooking/preparation techniques

6. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School meals are balanced and healthy Lunches that are part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must meet nutrition guidelines including: limiting fat and saturated fat in meals providing one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.

7. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Nutritional Standards Affordable Meals Health Related Concerns Food Safety Appealing Choices Cultural Diversity Commercial Influences Perceptions Student Preferences Balancing Priorities in School Nutrition Programs

8. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Result: Secondary School Menu Choice of: Grilled Chicken Breast Sub * Tuna Salad on Rye * Veg. Egg Roll w/Duck Sauce Soup w/saltine crackers Baby Carrots w/dip Potato Wedges Steamed Rice Seasoned Green Beans 1% Chocolate milk Calories = 868, Protein = 33 g., Carbohydrates = 112 g., Total Fat = 26 g, Saturated Fat = 6 g, Calcium = 444 mg., Iron = 5 mg., Vitamin A = 8022 IU, Vitamin C = 31 mg, Sodium = 2088, Fiber = 9 g, Cholesterol = 46 mg

9. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org USDA Nutritional Requirements (adjusted for grade level combinations) NutrientBreakfast Elem/SecElementary LunchSecondary Lunch Calories (Kcal)483645819 Protein (g)6.78.916 Calcium (mg)200267400 Iron (mg)2.53.34.5 Vitamin A (RE)158.4211300 Vitamin C (mg)11.315.018 Total calories from fat 30% or less Total calories from saturated fat Less than 10%

10. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School Meals help kids maintain a healthy weight –Students who eat school meals provided through the NSLP and the SBP are more likely to be at a healthy weight.* –NSLP participants are more likely than non-participants to consume vegetables, milk and milk products, and meat and other protein-rich foods, both at lunch and over 24 hours; they also consume less soda and/or fruit drinks.** *Source Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, August 2003 **Source USDA

11. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School Meals include USDA commodity foods –USDA has made significant progress in reducing the fat, sodium and added sugar in commodity foods. –Ground beef was reduced to an average 15% fat, as compared to an average 30% fat content in the fast food industry. –Commodity canned fruits are only bought with light syrup and 100% fruit juice verses heavy syrup. Source USDA

12. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School meals help students to do better in school –Research has shown that students who eat school meals perform their best academically. –Students who eat school breakfast have greater gains in standardized test scores and show improvements in math, reading and vocabulary scores.* *Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001

13. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School meals are safe USDA commodities used in the NSLP are safe and part of a nutritious school lunch. School nutrition professionals have rigorous training in food safety and have implemented a HACCP Plan. School kitchens are subject to two health inspections annually conducted by the local health department.

14. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org School Meals – The Facts School meal programs are self-sufficient School nutrition programs are self-funded and do not rely on the general district budget. Financial support comes from federal reimbursements of $2.40 for each free meal, $2.00 for reduced meals, and 23 cents for a paid meal. Revenue comes from students paying for meals as well – the average price paid by a student for a school lunch is $1.75

15. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Local Wellness Policies Public Law 108-265 enacted June 30, 2004 Section 204 – Local Wellness Policies “Not later than the first day of the school year beginning after June 30, 2006, each local educational agency … shall establish a local school wellness policy”

16. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Local Wellness Policies School districts have guidelines for –School meals –A la carte cafeteria sales –Vending machines –Student stores –Concession stands –Classroom parties and special events –Fundraising events Wellness policies are comprehensive – Physical Activity and Nutrition Education are included

17. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org SNA Survey of 100 Largest Districts by Enrollment Collected wellness policies from 1/05 – 9/06 –Policies collected from school district websites, contacting school nutrition directors, and contacting the school district’s central office Developed criteria to characterize diverse policies Team of five analyzed the policies

18. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org About the 100 Largest Districts Make up less than 1% of the school districts in the nation Educate 23% of students

19. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Reimbursable School Meals Data based on districts that directly or indirectly addressed reimbursable school meals in policy.

20. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org A la Carte and Vending Data based on districts that directly or indirectly addressed a la carte foods and beverages in policy.

21. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Nutrition Education & Physical Activity 97% of districts established nutrition education goals –93% make following goals mandatory 96% of districts establish goals for physical education –62% make goals a mandatory requirement –50% of districts require recess

22. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Other School-Based Activities Staff wellness programs (18 districts) Ensure adequate time to eat lunch (14 districts) Require school breakfast service (12 districts) Addressing meals provided for field trips (10 districts) Schedule recess before lunch (4 districts)

23. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Implementation of Policies –Support of School Administration vital to implementation –Financial impact possible: Changing food/beverage options - $ Possibly less revenue from sales Cost of training or new staffing for nutrition education and physical activity

24. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org The Future Support is critical to moving forward –State reimbursements will help fund more fruits and vegetables and whole grains in meals –Financial resources would encourage school breakfast and breakfast in the classroom –National, science-based school food and beverage standards would promote uniform healthy nutrition environments across the country

25. Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org Contact Us School Nutrition Association –www.schoolnutrition.org