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Nutrition

How does your district measure up? | Districts & Schools
Action Steps | Resources

Poor diet is one of the leading causes of obesity; inadequate physical activity is the other. Obese children are at higher risk for medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes. They tend to have higher rates of depression and low self-esteem. All of these factors make it harder to pay attention in class and succeed in school.

How does your district measure up?

  • Districtwide, our schools use at least three of the following strategies to promote healthy eating:
    • Limit the amount of processed foods offered to students.
    • Price nutritious food and beverages at lower costs and increase prices for less nutritious foods and drinks.
    • Eliminate a la carte food offerings in the school cafeteria.
    • Collect and use suggestions from students, families and school staff about nutritious food preferences and strategies to promote healthy eating.
    • Provide information about nutrition and the caloric content of foods available.
    • Conduct taste tests to determine food preferences for nutritious items.
    • Provide opportunities for students to visit the cafeteria to learn about food safety, food preparation or other nutrition-related topics.
  • All schools in our district meet the HealthierUS School Challenge criteria for cafeteria meals, food vending machine items, school store snacks and school celebrations.
  • Beverages offered at schools in our district meet or exceed Colorado Healthy Beverages Policy standards.
  • We offer nutrition education in at least half of the grade levels in every school in our district. Our approach to nutrition education is fun, interactive and integrated into the curriculum. It encourages children to eat a variety of foods, including those that are lower in fat and are calcium-rich, as well as more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  • Our nutrition staff is well-trained and is current on best practices in the field.
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Districts & Schools

Some districts and schools in Colorado are leading the way to ensure students eat healthy, fresh meals.

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Action Steps

Administrators

    • Establish a wellness and nutrition committee of parents, community members and staff to assist the district with policies and practices.
    • Ensure vending machines, a la carte lines, fundraisers and stores in every school only provide healthy options. Jettison sugary snacks and drinks.
    • Connect schools to experts and resources for developing tasty, nutritious foods.
    • Send nutrition information home to parents who pack their children’s lunches. Explain the elements of a healthy lunch.

School board members

    • Engage the community to gain deeper insights into its values about good nutrition and student achievement.
    • Develop a board policy that directs the district to provide healthy and nutritious food in school cafeterias and provides nutrition education for all students.
    • Build awareness among constituents about the relevance of nutrition to student achievement.
    • Develop partnerships with the medical community, social services agencies and local nonprofits that are interested in nutrition.

Parents

    • Partner with community organizations that can provide programming which teaches good nutrition and healthy eating — both during school hours and in after-school programs. For example, build school gardens that can be both educational and nutritious.
    • Get to know your district’s food service program and make an effort to include healthy snacks and refreshments at district and school meetings, in the classroom, and at events and celebrations.
    • Encourage children to participate in free school breakfasts.
    • Serve on a wellness and nutrition committee of parents, community members and staff to assist the district with policies and practices.

Community members

    • Become a leader or a supporter of good nutrition and nutrition education in your school district.
    • Participate in conversations led by administrators and school board members about how to increase access to well-balanced meals for students, staff and the community. Help identify community issues, priorities and values.
    • Partner with districts and schools to provide programming that teaches good nutrition and healthy eating — both during school hours and in after-school programs.
    • Serve on a wellness and nutrition committee of parents, community members and staff to assist the district with policies and practices.
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Resources

There’s a wealth of resources available to get you started. Among the most relevant to nutrition:

American Association of School Administrators
Discover a wealth of resources for district administrators focused on childhood obesity and healthy school environments, including a checklist for wellness and informative newsletters featuring school districts that are making positive program and policy changes in healthy eating and active living.

Center for Science in the Public Interest
Find out about effective practices and policies to improve school foods and beverages.

Children’s Health Foundation
Learn how five Colorado middle schools removed unhealthy a la carte options for more healthy options and the impact of this decision on their school budgets.

EdNews Parent Colorado
Access news, tip sheets and background information on the most talked about issues affecting students, including healthy schools.

Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategies Tool Kit
Use the strategies in this comprehensive tool kit to develop policies for high-quality nutrition in schools.

National Association of State Boards of Education — Preventing Childhood Obesity
Learn the latest information about nutrition and different policy approaches in this easy-to-read paper.

Virtual Lunch Box
Visit the virtual lunch box online for strategies school and district leaders can use to create healthier meals for students and staff that are grown locally and prepared from scratch.

“Previously, our food service employees’ tools of the trade were a box cutter and a can opener. We weren’t cutting up fresh food and cooking it. Now it’s fresh food cooked from scratch. When you eat well, your brain and body perform better.”

~ Chris King, superintendent, Boulder Valley School District

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