Provide an environment that supports healthy eating.

Sample Activities:

• Serve appropriate portion sizes for foods served at school.
• Provide point of purchase prompts to promote healthy eating.
• Provide students with nutrition education, using the cafeteria as a hands-on learning laboratory.
• Integrate nutrition education into the curriculum.
• Complete the “Nutrition Services” module of the School Health Index and incorporate results into the school improvement plan.
• Provide healthy food options, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low- or non-fat dairy products.
• Provide consistent messages about healthy eating in the classroom and cafeteria/vending sites.
• Enhance school breakfast programs by offering alternative meal options.
• Implement guidelines for healthy snacks and foods provided in vending machines, school stores, and other competitive foods.
• Develop and implement guidelines for snacks and refreshments served at school parties and celebrations.
• Develop and implement guidelines to address using food as discipline or reward for students.
• Provide an adequate amount of time for students to eat school meals.
• Encourage nonfood or healthy food fundraisers such as flowers, gift-wrap, fresh fruit, sporting events, and family fun runs.
• Support and promote farm to school programs.
• Establish a school garden.

Tools:

SC Department of Agriculture School Gardens Program

School Health Index

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Program Framework

SDE Office of School Food Services and Nutrition

School Breakfast Scorecard

Center for Science in the Public Interest’s School Foods Tool Kit

National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity: Model School Wellness Policies on Physical Activity and Nutrition

National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity: Schools and School Districts that have Improved School Foods and Beverages and Not Lost Revenue

1% or Less School Kit

Sybershop

School Fundraising Toolkit

Healthy Food, Healthy Communities: Improving Access and Opportunities through Food Retailing

Nutrition Explorations’ Classroom Connections

Planet Health

Jump into Food and Fitness

Eat Well and Keep Moving

Breastfeeding: First Step to Good Health – A Breastfeeding Education Activity Package for Grades K-12

The Kindergarten Initiative Toolkit

Healthy School Snacks

School Beverage Toolkit

Fresh from the Farm: Using Local Foods in the Afterschool and Summer Nutrition Programs

Eat Smart. Play Hard. Web Site for Educators

Food and Nutrition Fun for Elementary Age Children

Nourishing Choices: Implementing Food Education in Classrooms, Cafeterias, and Schoolyards

Discovering School Breakfast Toolkit

Wellness Policy Development Tool

Wellness Policy Evaluation Tool

Farm to School:  Nourishing Kids and Communities

Bearing Fruit: Farm to School Program Evaluation Resources and Recommendations

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

Garden-Based Learning Videos

Healthy School Toolkit

School Meals:  Building Blocks for Healthy Children

The Lunch Box: Healthy Tools to Help All Schools

Starting a Community Garden on School Grounds

Gardens for Learning: Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden

Model Policies from the National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide