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WELLNESS IN OUR SCHOOLS
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INTRODUCTION
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The link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning is well documented. Healthy eating and activity patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. Healthy eating and physical activity, essential for a healthy weight, are also linked to reduced risk for many chronic diseases. Schools have a responsibility to help students learn, establish, and maintain lifelong healthy eating and activity patterns. Well-planned and effectively implemented school nutrition and fitness programs have been shown to enhance students’ overall health, as well as their behavior and academic achievement in school. Staff wellness also is an integral part of a healthy school environment since school staff can be daily role models for healthy behaviors.
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GOALS
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The Harrison County School System is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Therefore, it is the policy of the Harrison County Board of Education that:
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The school system will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing county-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.
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All students in grades K-12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
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Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
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To the maximum extent practical, all schools in our county will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program [including after-school snacks], and Summer Food Service Program).
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Harrison County Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services.
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TIP OF THE WEEK
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Pack a Tasty Lunch for Your Child's Taste Buds
Even if you pack a healthy lunch like a cottage-cheese-stuffed bell pepper and a bran muffin, that doesn't necessarily mean that it made its way to your child's tummy. This lunch might please your palate, but younger taste buds aren't generally so adventurous. And if kids don't like it, they probably won't eat it. And if you're not around, the chances that they'll eat it are even slimmer. The best way to ensure that lunch ends up where it should is to recruit some help when packing it. Research shows kids enjoy food more if they've helped prepare it. Besides letting them chop and bag, there are many ways to get your children involved:
- Let your child choose what to pack. If you're afraid to let her choose what goes in the box for fear it will consist entirely of junk food, and then let her choose between a few different approved items.
- Create a menu. Work with your child to come up with a list of foods she'd be happy to see in her lunchbox. Categorize them into food groups, and let your child pick an item from each group to pack. This way she has guidelines AND a choice. Keep a running list of ideas (yours and your child's) to liven up the menu periodically.
- Don't overlook last-night's dinner. Did your child really love the veggie pizza or the chicken stir-fry you had for dinner last night? Leftovers save time and make a great lunch.
- Allow periodic splurges. If you've got a die-hard chocoholic on your hands, allow the occasional treat -- as long as your child is eating healthy most of the time. Some schools give kids as little as 20 minutes to eat lunch, so peel, chop, seed, and spread in advance. They'll be more likely to eat that juicy orange if it's already peeled and sectioned.
- Only pack foods that have passed the test. If they've never tried spring rolls, don't pack them until they gain approval.
- Discuss the other leftovers. If you pack the carrot sticks and your child tosses them, no one benefits. Make sure that your child is actually eating their entire lunch--if not, then don't pack so much. Ask them to bring home the leftovers so you can modify portion sizes next time.
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