ROXBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NUTRITION / WELLNESS POLICY

Procedures at the Roxbury School District Elementary School

Revision Effective September 1, 2007

The policies of the Roxbury School District Board of Education have been developed to achieve a balance between promoting the health, safety, and wellness of our children, while respecting the rights of parents/guardians to make choices for their own children.  Similarly recognized is the role that food may play in learning and celebrating various life experiences.  Please be advised that the following rules/procedures will apply to foods/beverages made available to children in the Roxbury School District Elementary Schools:

1. Food provided by a parent/guardian for his/her own child (Snack/Lunch)
   1. Parents/Guardians may provide food that is deemed appropriate for their own child.
   2. “Healthy choices,” that is, foods that rise above those of “minimal nutritional value,” are strongly encouraged.
   3. Under no circumstances may a child share his/her food with another child.
   4. Please note that soda is not permitted in the schools.

2. Food provided to students in or on school grounds by anyone, including staff members, other than their own parent guardian (This includes foods/beverages that may be supplied to celebrate a birthday, holiday, classroom, or curriculum event.)
   1. The food/beverage must be purchased from an approved vendor (please refer to www.roxbury.org for a list of these vendors)

The food/beverage offered for distribution must not fall within the category of “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” as established by the United States Department of Agriculture (see page two or link to http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/menu/fmnv.htm for clarification.  Also included is a list of healthful alternatives).

2. The food/beverage must be brought to the main office prior to delivery to the classroom.  Personnel in the main office will check that the food/beverage has been obtained by an approved vendor, is in its original, sealed package, meets nutritional guidelines, addresses allergy concerns within certain classrooms, and is approved for distribution.  Teachers are not authorized to distribute food without approval from the main office.
3. Under no circumstances may food that has been prepared in anyone’s home be distributed to the children.

3. Food Provided to Students by the School Cafeterias

Kindly refer to the web link Food Services at www.roxbury.org.

Thank you in advance for your compliance with the implementation plan for our Board of Education School Nutrition Policies.

Sincerely,

______________________________________                    _______________________________________

Mr. Dennis Mack, Superintendent                                  Mr. Edward Hade, Assistant Superintendent

 ___________________________________                      _____________________________________

Dr. Mary Ann Boyd, Principal Franklin School                 Mrs. Beth Azar, Principal Nixon School

_____________________________________                      _____________________________________

Mrs. Karen Carlson, Principal Jefferson School               Mrs. Audrey Wallock, Principal Kennedy School

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value

The following is taken from Appendix B of 7 CFR Part 210.

Appendix B to Part 210--Categories of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value

(a) Foods of minimal nutritional value--Foods of minimal nutritional value are:

(1) Soda Water--A class of beverages made by absorbing carbon dioxide in potable water. The amount of carbon dioxide used is not less than that which will be absorbed by the beverage at a pressure of one atmosphere and at a temperature of 60 deg. F. It either contains no alcohol or only such alcohol, not in excess of 0.5 percent by weight of the finished beverage, as is contributed by the flavoring ingredient used. No product shall be excluded from this definition because it contains artificial sweeteners or discrete nutrients added to the food such as vitamins, minerals and protein.

(2) Water Ices--As defined by 21 CFR 135.160 Food and Drug Administration Regulations except that water ices which contain fruit or fruit juices are not included in this definition.

(3) Chewing Gum--Flavored products from natural or synthetic gums and other ingredients which form an insoluble mass for chewing. 

(4) Certain Candies--Processed foods made predominantly from sweeteners or artificial sweeteners with a variety of minor ingredients which characterize the following types:

(i) Hard Candy--A product made predominantly from sugar (sucrose) and corn syrup which may be flavored and colored, is characterized by a hard, brittle texture, and includes such items as sour balls, fruit balls, candy sticks, lollipops, starlight mints, after dinner mints, sugar wafers, rock candy, cinnamon candies, breath mints, jaw breakers and cough drops.

(ii) Jellies and Gums--A mixture of carbohydrates which are combined to form a stable gelatinous system of jelly-like character, and are generally flavored and colored, and include gum drops, jelly beans, jellied and fruit-flavored slices.

(iii) Marshmallow Candies--An aerated confection composed as sugar, corn syrup, invert sugar, 20 percent water and gelatin or egg white to which flavors and colors may be added.

(iv) Fondant--A product consisting of microscopic-sized sugar crystals which are separated by thin film of sugar and/or invert sugar in solution such as candy corn, soft mints.

(v) Licorice--A product made predominantly from sugar and corn syrup which is flavored with an extract made from the licorice root.

(vi) Spun Candy--A product that is made from sugar that has been boiled at high temperature and spun at a high speed in a special machine.

(vii) Candy Coated Popcorn--Popcorn which is coated with a mixture made predominantly from sugar and corn syrup.

Please Note: Chocolate candy is not specifically listed above, however, most chocolate candies list sugar as the primary ingredient.  Therefore, the Roxbury Elementary Schools will recognize chocolate candy as a food of “minimal nutritional value” as part of the implementation of the Roxbury School District Board of Education policies.

Healthful Choices

1.       100 Calorie Cookies and Crackers                                   10.   Kudos

2.       100% Fruit Snacks                                                         11.   Low fat mini muffins

3.       Cheese Sticks                                                                12.   Mini bagels

4.       Chex Mix                                                                       13.   Mini Brownie Bites

5.       Fruit Ices                                                                       14.   Nutrigrain Bars

6.       Sealed Fruit Trays                                                          15.   Pudding Cups

7.       Granola Bars                                                                 16.   Rice Krispie Treats

8.       Ice cream frozen desserts                                              17.   Sealed vegetable and dip trays

9.       Jello                                                                              18.   Yogurt/Gogurt Pops