6700P-NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP)
The district will convene an advisory committee to assist in development
of the District- wide LSWP. The committee may include parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board and school administrators, teachers of physical education, school health professionals and the public in developing, implementing, periodically reviewing and updating the LSWP, shown below.
School Meal Programs and Competitive Foods
The District will follow the USDA meal patterns for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Smart Snacks in School
standards for all food and beverages sold to students on school campus during the school day. These are available athttp://www.fns.usda.gov/x
While students/parents/guardians are permitted to bring commercial foods to school that do not meet the Smart Snacks standards on occasions such as birthdays and holiday celebrations, the District will encourage healthy food choices in all school operations.
Celebrations and Rewards
All foods offered on the school campus by the school or District will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. The following are encouraged to meet these standards:
- Celebrations and parties.
- Classroom snacks brought by parents.
- Rewards and incentives. The District will provide teachers and other relevant school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward, or withheld as punishment for any reason, such as for performance or behavior.
Fundraising
Foods and beverages that meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus during the school day. The District will make available to parents and teachers a list of healthy fundraising ideas.
Water
To promote hydration, free, safe, and unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every
school campus. The District will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes. In addition, students will be allowed to bring and carry (approved) water bottles filled with only water with them throughout the day.
School Cafeterias
- Any student may eat in the school cafeteria or other designated place;
- Meal prices will be established by the superintendent and food service supervisor, with approval of the board, at the beginning of each year;
- Healthy option foods should be competitively priced; and
- Meal prices will be conspicuously posted in each cafeteria or designated meal area.
Nutrition Education and Food Services Operation
In order to support the school’s nutrition and food services operation as an essential partner in the educational mission of the District and its role in the District’s comprehensive nutrition program, the superintendent is responsible for:
- Encouraging students to participate in the school meal programs.;
- Providing varied and nutritious food choices consistent with the applicable school meal program guidelines; and
- Providing that:
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- Students have adequate time to eat their entire meal;
- Seating for meals is uncrowded and occurs in a pleasant and safe environment;
- Rules for mealtime behavior are consistently enforced;
- Mealtime supervision is appropriate;
- Elementary student recess held in conjunction with the lunch period occurs prior to or immediately following the lunch period; and
- Buses arrive in time for students to participate in the School Breakfast Program.
Staff Development
Ongoing in-service and professional development training opportunities for staff in the area of food nutrition will be encouraged.
Family and Community Involvement
In order to promote family and community involvement in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education in schools, the school principal is responsible for ensuring:
- Nutrition education materials and breakfast and lunch menus are made available to parents;
- Parents are encouraged to promote their child’s participation in the school meals program. If their children do not participate in the school meals program, parents should provide their children with Healthy snacks/meals;
- Families are invited to attend exhibitions of student nutrition projects or health fairs;
- Nutrition education curriculum includes homework that students can do with their families (e.g., reading and interpreting food labels, reading nutrition-related newsletters, preparing healthy recipes, etc.);
- School staff are encouraged to cooperate with other agencies and community groups to provide opportunities for student projects related to nutrition, as appropriate; and
- School staff consider the various cultural preferences in development of nutrition education programs and food options.
Nutrition Education
The District’s K-12 nutrition education curriculum shall be in alignment with the Washington State K-12 Learning Standards. District’s nutrition education K-12 curriculum should include, but not be limited to, the following:
Age-appropriate nutritional knowledge, including:
- Understand the relationship of nutrition and food nutrients to physical performance and body composition;
- Learn the benefits of healthy eating;
- Understand essential nutrients;
- Learn about nutritional deficiencies;
- Understand the principles of healthy weight management;
- Understand the use and misuse of dietary supplements;
- Learn safe food preparation, handling, and storage; and
- Appreciate cultural diversity related to food and eating.
- Age-appropriate nutrition-related skills, including:
- Gather and analyze health information;
- Analyze nutrition information to plan and prepare a healthy meal;
- Understand and use food labels,
- Evaluate nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food and advertising; and
- Assess one’s personal eating habits, set goals for improvement, and achieve those goals.
Nutrition education at all levels of the District’s integrated curriculum should include, but not be limited to, the following essential components designed to help students learn:
Age-appropriate nutritional knowledge, including understanding the relationship of nutrition and food nutrients to physical performance and body composition; recognizing patterns of growth and development; understanding the concept of control and prevention of disease; acquiring skills to live safely and reduce health risks; understanding how
environmental factors affect health; learn the benefits of healthy eating;
understand essential nutrients; learn about nutritional deficiencies; understand the principles of healthy weight management; understand the use and misuse of dietary supplements; learn safe food preparation, handling, and storage; and appreciate cultural diversity related to food and eating;
Age-appropriate nutrition-related skills, including gathering and analyzing health information; using social skills to promote health and safety; understand how emotions influence decision making; analyze health and safety information and develop a health and fitness plan and a monitoring system, to plan and prepare a healthy meal, understand and use food labels, and to critically evaluate nutrition information, misinformation, and commercial food and advertising; and how to assess one’s personal eating habits, set goals for improvement, and achieve those goals.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you need school meal program information in another language, please call 360-942-3415 ext. 2150.