USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Healthier US School Challenge Recognizing School Nutrition and Wellness Excellence

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Healthier US School Challenge Part of our commitment to School Wellness and a Healthy School Environment

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Building Healthy Students Family School Community

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Healthy School Environment Quality school meals Other healthy food options Pleasant eating experiences Nutrition education Physical activity Physical education Staff wellness

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Healthier US School Challenge Recognize a school’s commitment to: Taking a leadership role in school wellness Improving nutritional quality of meals Providing other healthful food and beverage choices Providing nutrition education and physical education and physical activity

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Healthier US School Challenge WHY should our school apply? HOW does the program work? WHAT do we need to do? WHAT are the criteria? WHO needs to be involved? HOW can you help?

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Why should our school apply? Opportunity to share our commitment to healthy students and healthy schools Opportunity to correct misperceptions about the quality of our school meals Opportunity to share good news about school nutrition with our community

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge How does the program work? Voluntary program from USDA Schools must meet or exceed criteria Schools can apply for Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold Award of Distinction certification Certification applies for two years beyond the date of recognition

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What do we need to do? Convene review panel. Complete application with documentation and required signatures. Submit completed application to state child nutrition agency. Answer any questions and provide additional documentation as requested by state agency and regional USDA office. Wait for approval and certification.

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the basic criteria? Be an elementary school Be enrolled as a Team Nutrition School Offer reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu planning practices and meet USDA nutrition standards Provide students with nutrition education, physical education and physical activity Maintain required levels of Average Daily Participation (ADP) in school lunch program Follow guidelines established by USDA for foods served and sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the BRONZE criteria? School Lunch Menu ADP in school lunch minimum of 62 % A different fruit and a different vegetable daily Dark green/orange vegetable 3 or more days/week Cooked dry beans or peas at least 1 day/week Fresh fruit at least once per week Whole-grain food 3 or more days/week Only low-fat or non-fat milk is offered daily

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the BRONZE criteria? Competitive Foods In addition to school lunch criteria c ompetitive foods (a la carte, vending, snack bar, school stores) must meet the following criteria: ≤ 35% of calories from fat, (excluding nuts, seeds, nut butters, reduced-fat cheese) Less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving (trans fat-free) ≤ 10% of calories from saturated fat (excluding reduced fat cheese) ≤ 480 mg sodium per side dish/non-entrée serving ≤ 600 mg per main dish/entrée serving ≤35% total sugar, by weight (excluding fruits, vegetables, milk) A la carte portion size not to exceed school lunch portion size or 200 calories

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the BRONZE criteria? Competitive Foods (cont.) In addition to school lunch criteria c ompetitive foods (a la carte, vending, snack bar, school stores) must meet the following criteria: Beverages Reduced-fat, low-fat, or non-fat milk (maximum 8 fl oz) 100% full-strength fruit and vegetable juices (maximum 6 fl oz) Plain water as the only beverages

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the BRONZE criteria? Physical Education and Activity (cont.) Physical education classes Minimum average 45 minutes per week Daily opportunities for physical activity Reinforcing physical education messages

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the SILVER criteria? ADP in School Lunch of at least 70 % Plus all the same criteria listed under Bronze for school lunch and competitive foods

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the GOLD criteria? ADP in school lunch of at least 70 percent All the same criteria listed under Bronze/Silver for School Lunch and Competitive Foods PLUS offers lunches with: A fresh fruit 2 days/week minimum A whole-grain food each day PLUS follows USDA nutrition standards about competitive foods throughout the school day, anywhere on the school campus PLUS offers PE classes 90 minutes per week

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge What are the criteria for GOLD AWARD OF DISTINCTION? ADP in School Lunch of at least 70 % All the same criteria listed under Gold for school lunch, competitive foods, and physical education/activity PLUS restricts competitive foods to: ≤ 200 mg sodium per non-entrée ≤ 480 mg sodium per entrée PLUS offers PE classes 150 minutes per week

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge Who needs to be involved? A school-based review panel of at least: School foodservice manager and district-level foodservice director Team Nutrition School Leader Parent organization representative (e.g, PTA/PTO) School nurse, Coordinated School Health staff, physical education or classroom teacher Principal or other administrator

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge HOW can YOU help? Join our review team. Provide documentation of nutrition education and physical activity for students. Help us celebrate!!

USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge THANK YOU