Healthy Choices at School
Schools play an important role when it comes to a healthy start. Young people spend more than half their day at school. If schools teach young people how to make healthy choices, then it is likely those healthy choices will carry through their lifespan into adulthood.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. A healthy school nutrition environment provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating throughout the time children spend on school grounds. Some tips for promoting healthy nutrition:
- Learn more about the nutrition standards for school meals.
- Eat school breakfast or lunch with your child.
- Review school menus with your child, and encourage them to try new menu items. CCSD has implemented ‘Taste It Tuesdays’ where they debut new menu items on the school lunch menu.
- Ask to join your child’s school wellness committee. The Principal will know who the Wellness Coordinator at their school is.
- Suggest non-food alternatives for classroom celebrations to your child’s teacher. For example, give extra recess, have a dance party or go on a special field trip.
- Bring in healthy snacks (e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, water) when responsible for contributing items to events and celebrations at school.
- Make healthy snacks together with your child. This is an opportunity to learn about healthy food choices.
- Ask your child’s elementary school principal to request a CCSD rotating salad bar.
