Jefferson Township Nutrition Services Making Sound Nutritional Changes

Legislation Passed to Improve Children’s Health and Wellness Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which requires, by law, that by the first day of the school year in 2006, each school district participating in the National School Lunch Program meet new requirements in order to receive continued funding.

New Jersey Model Nutrition Policy overview ~ required for schools to adopt by September 2007 This policy is a commitment of the Board of Education to provide students with healthy and nutritious foods; encourage consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat milk, and whole grains; provide nutrition education; encourage consumption of all components of the school meal; and provide students with opportunities to engage in daily physical activity.

New Jersey Model Nutrition Policy For All Grade Levels  Items that are prohibited to be served, sold or given out as free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day:  Foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) as per USDA definition.  All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form, as the first ingredient.  All forms of candy.  Snack and beverage standards, including those served in the After School Snack Program:  No more than 8 grams of total fat per serving, with the exception of nuts and seeds.  No more than 2 grams of saturated fat per serving.  Beverage sizes, other than water, or other milk containing 2% percent or less fat, shall not exceed 12 ounces.  Whole milk shall not exceed 8 ounces.  Schools shall reduce the purchase of products containing trans fats.

New Jersey Model Nutrition Policy For Elementary Schools:  100 percent of all beverages offered shall be milk, water or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices. For Middle and High Schools:  At least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk and water, shall be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.  No more than 40 percent of all ice cream/frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat and saturated fat.

New Jersey Model Nutrition Policy  Exceptions to Food and Beverage Standards:  Food and beverages served during special school celebrations or during curriculum related activities, except for Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value as defined by USDA.  Medically authorized special needs diets and items given during the course of health care or per student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)  Other Related Policy Standards:  Incorporate nutrition education and physical activity consistent with the New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum Standards.  Allow adequate time for student meal service and consumption.  Whenever possible, schedule physical education or recess before lunch.  Promote the Policy with all food service personnel, parents, teachers, nurses, coaches and other school administrative staff.  Expand awareness about this policy among students, parents, teachers and the community at large.

A Nutritional Work in Progress Currently:  Offering alternate low fat a la carte selections  Regular chips with lower fat baked chips  Low fat soft pretzels to elementary schools  Offer small sizes of bottled water to elementary schools  Taste testing new products for a la carte and vending for all schools  Strawberry Milk ~ added as an additional choice daily  Entrée Salad ~ Available as an alternate choice in the elementary schools  Milk Vending ~ High School, Middle School and one Elementary school pilot

…A Nutritional Work in Progress  Tossed Salad available as an alternate vegetable daily  Slushy ~ 100 percent fruit juice at Middle/High School  Brand Name 100 percent fruit juices ~  Tropicana  Snapple  Introduced Max Ultra Grain Pizza ~ WOW!!  Whole wheat pizza with low fat cheese  Lift Off Visits the Elementary Schools  Lift Off is Sodexho’s Good Health Ambassador  YAC ~ Youth Advisory Committee Meetings

…A Nutritional Work in Progress  Name Brand Products In Use:  Low Fat Jennie-O Turkey Ham & Deli Turkey  Low Fat Ken’s Dressings  Schwan’s Pizza  Lender Bagels  Rich’s Seapack Mozzarella Sticks  Armour Hot Dogs ~  McCain’s Fries  Garden Burger Veggie Burgers  Tyson Chicken Nuggets and Patties  Lucille Farms lite mozzarella cheese for school made pizza  Old El Paso Salsa  Pierre Burgers

… additional updates  50’s Buffet at Middle & High Schools  Vote and Be Heard at Elementary Schools The Top Three Favorites  Pizza  Chicken Nuggets  Nachos  New Lunch Tickets  Speeds the serving line  Complies with State Regulations

What’s Ahead? Continue to Sample New Products Fruit ~ Veggie ~ Grain of the Month Partner with PTA ~ Create Nutrition Awareness Self Service Fruit & Veggie Bar Milk Vending ~ Lower Fat Selections Offer more whole grains Fun Food & Nutrition Hand-outs at Lunch Display Cooking – Oriental Stir Fry – Sushi Demo YAC Meetings at each school ~ Scheduled for January Lift Off Visits

Fruit ~ Veggie ~ Grain of the Month We will highlight each month a Fruit, Veggie and Grain in season Offering each in a recipe at least one to two times monthly as part of the Funded Lunch Offer handouts on each Have samples available to taste test

Self Service Fruit & Vegetable Bar Fun & Eye Appealing Create Fruit & Veggie Awareness Five to seven choices Fresh, Dried and Canned Handouts on Fruits and Veggies Offered

Handouts We will have available at lunchtime on the serving line Fun Food Puzzles, Word Searches, Coloring Sheets all based on Food Nutrition and exercise Simple Informational Nutritional Facts Simple Snack Recipes

Display Cooking Guest Chef Demo  Pasta Primavera  Oriental Stir Fry Veggies  Sushi Demo

YAC Meetings Youth Advisory Committee Meetings with the students We offer a ‘Cooking Corner’ – Students make their own snack/lunch – Give recipes to take home Ambrosia Trail Mix Turkey Caesar Salad Wraps Cheese Quesadillas Strawberry Mango Salsa Fruit Smoothies

Lift Off Visits

Thank you We welcome any concerns and suggestions Please contact: Nawal Maroun, General Manager Sodexho School Services Jefferson Nutrition Services