Nutrition and Wellness Policies ... in place in the Roxbury Cafeterias for 2007- 08

 

School districts throughout the United States are adopting nutrition and wellness policies.  These policies are designed to address the nutrition and physical activity of the students. School districts are setting goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provisions and other school related activities to promote student health and well-being. School districts are in a unique position to address the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, because children spend such a large portion of their day in school or school related activities. These policies are based on sound scientific principal taking a balanced approach in promoting wellness and overall health. The federal legislation established minimum requirements, but left specific language in the control of local school districts.

 

Over the past two decades, the weight of children, age 6-11 has more than doubled and weight increases in age 12-19 has more than tripled and children at risk for becoming overweight is also rising. Physical inactivity, a sedentary lifestyle coupled with excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes of childhood obesity. Whether they are overweight or not, many children are over fed yet poorly nourished thus increasing the risk for chronic disease later in life. Finding solutions to this problem will take action and changes in many area of society, including families, healthcare, communities, the food industry as well as the school environment.

Children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn, and thrive. Good health fosters student attendance, enhances academic performance with higher test scores, and better classroom participation.

 

Food and physical activity choices affect your health and how you feel today as well as tomorrow, having the knowledge to make the right choices can have a positive outcome on the health of our students. Building a student’s knowledge and healthy eating behaviors is most successful when partnered in the classrooms as well as the cafeterias.

 

 In the Roxbury School District cafeterias, we are following the direction of the Child Nutrition Program in implementing changes to the foods and beverages available to the students. Expanding healthful food and beverage choices encourages students to enjoy new selections.  

 

The following letter was sent to the families detailing the guidelines for our wellness policy.

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.

 

  1. 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).

    1. 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.
    2. Under no circumstances may food that has been prepared in anyone’s home be distributed to the children.

 

  1. 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.

 

Creating a focus on healthful eating and making good food choices is my primary goal for  my position as Director of Food and Nutrition Services. Please visit our website www.roxbury.org/foodservices  which is designed to enhance our program, keep you up to date on the latest school food service trends and how these trends will impact the foods served in our cafeterias as well as the positive impact of optimal nutrition on health