Sending a Consistent Message of Health- School Nutrition Kara Shifler, RD, LDN Krista McManus, MS

What is a Consistent Method of Health? Classes Fundraisers Marketing- bulletin boards Books Afterschool snacks Celebrations and Birthdays Rewards

NSLP Guidelines: Where We Are KS Talk to your neighbor about how your school serves breakfast? Does it address the neediest kids?

Sodium Reduction KS

NSLP Guidelines KS

Food and Beverage Marketing Bulletin boards Borders Menu graphics School website

Fundraising From Here: To Here: Subs 5K Candy Walk/ Run Cookie Dough Restaurants To Here: 5K Walk/ Run Jump Rope for Heart Talent Show “Celebrity” Event

Celebrations Fruits and veggies Get parents involved 4 signature events (Go for the Greens, Apple Crunch, Walk to School, and Move it Outside) Go for the Green - promotes green veggies as good food and good fun! Schools and community organizations celebrate this event with taste-testings and other fun activities to open young minds and taste buds to the greatness of greens. Celebrated on March 18, 2018. Apple Crunch - Celebrated during National Apple Month on October 24, 2017, Apple Crunch promotes healthy snacking. The event encourages youth and families to eat apples, and apple products (applesauce, juice, and cider) as a healthy snack. Walk to School Day - Internationally celebrated event, bringing together millions of walkers from around the world all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk. In Pennsylvania, Walk to (or at) School Day is celebrated to build support for creating Safe Routes to School (SRTS). Celebrated on October 4, 2017. Move it Outside – Celebrated on May 3, 2018, hold outdoor activities to encourage youth to increase activity levels and reconnect with nature.

Non- Food Rewards For Groups Activities Dance parties Extra active time Teacher competition Have class outside Read a book outside Do a brain break activity- gonoodle.com Watch an educational video

Non- Food Rewards For Individuals Trinkets Erasers Pencils Jacks Paddleballs Jump ropes Yo-yos Sidewalk chalk Slinkys Sunglasses Sweat bands Trick or treat example

How to Enforce Standards? Wellness policies Chances are you must have one Do you know what it says? Do teachers know what it says? Do parents know what it says? Does practice meet policy? Each local educational agency that participates in the National School Lunch Program or other federal Child Nutrition programs is required by federal law to establish a local school wellness policy for all schools under its jurisdiction.

How to Distribute/ Make Wellness Policies Known Step 1: Find out what it says Step 2: Find out who is on the Wellness Council Step 3: Verify that it is being followed Step 4: Adjust as necessary - Ask PTO’s for feedback Step 5: Help it become known - Send home with parents - Post around schools When schools have effective policies and practices that support the health of their students and staff; absenteeism decreases, concentration improves, and behavior problems are reduced.        - National School Boards Association Wellness Policies provide an opportunity for schools and districts to create a healthy school environment by making physical activity, healthy eating and staff wellness programs, sustainable practices. School wellness policies are vital to making the healthy choice, the easy choice on school campuses. At the least a district needs to: Convene your Committee – Build support with a wellness committee made up of diverse points of view Refresh your policy – wellness policies establish the foundation for health promoting practices throughout your school district Put policy into Practice – wellness policies require action and continuous evaluation at the school level. Evaluate and Communicate – reporting on you school’s progress keeps everyone on track and motivated to meet your goals.

Wellness Policy at a Minimum At a minimum, a wellness policy should include: Specific goals Standards and nutrition guidelines Standards for all food/beverages provided Policies for food and beverage marketing Description of public involvement, public updates, policy leadership, and evaluation plan. Wellness Policy Leadership Permit participation

Other Resources USDA Final Rule Alliance for a Healthier Generation Model Wellness Policy Pennsylvania School Boards Association Template WellSAT 2.0 Alliance – Great site for additional resources/trainings/webinars regarding convening your wellness committee, refreshing your policy; putting policy into practice, and evaluating your policy. Model Wellness Policy – Considered a “basic” district-level wellness policy template meeting the minimum Federal standards for local school wellness policy implementation under the final rule of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and minimum best practice standards accepted in the education and public health fields. Where appropriate, the template includes optional policy language school districts can use to establish a stronger policy. School districts should choose policy language that meets their current needs and also supports growth over time. If you are using this tool to compare your policy against, you should include the language in italics as the strongest examples for comparison. PDE – Local School Wellness Policy Information Great links in here including a webinar recording, the PSBA Local School Wellness Policy Template; and links to USDA resources WellSAT - School wellness policies are evaluated based on the degree to which they address 78 policy items, which are categorized into six sections. The sections include Nutrition Education (1), Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Meals (2), Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverages (3), Physical Education and Activity (4), Wellness Promotion and Marketing (5) and Implementation, Evaluation and Communication (6). District wellness policy statements are to be rated "0," "1," or "2,".

WellSAT 2.0 Example Strength and Comprehension scores provided for each section, as well as an overall district policy score.

PRO Wellness Resources Wellness Policy Review Guide Wellness Policy Revision Development Guide Handout

Thank you! Questions? Krista McManus: kmcmanus2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu Kara Shifler: kshifler@pennstatehealth.psu.edu