Week 5: Nutrition Services

Coordinated School Health is an effective model that schools use to coordinate interventions that address students' social, emotional, behavioral and health needs. A well established Coordinated School Health system strengthens prevention, intervention, and other 'learning supports' resulting in a coordinated, integrated and seamless system of support that allows all children to thrive in school—regardless of barriers to learning. Through this process, schools will develop partnerships with the community and families to set in place the collaborations that will allow programs to be sustained and grow. In time, this support system will lead to improvements in student health and well being, academics, and graduation rates.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Coordinated School Health Model consists of eight components. These components include:
 

• Counseling & Psychological Services
• Physical Education
• Health Services
• Nutrition Services
• Healthy School Environment
• Health Promotion for Staff
• Family/Community Involvement
  

Nutrition Services:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe Nutrition Services as access to a variety of appealing nutritious meals that support the health and nutrient needs of all students. Likewise, school nutrition can serve as a learning laboratory for classroom nutrition and health education (CDC).  Nutrition Services should ensure that menus follow U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Nutrition component of Coordinated School Health should also involve nutrition education, nutrition/vending policies, snacking policies, classroom reward policies, and a resource for linkages with nutrition-related community services.

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FOUR ACTIVITIES.
Then TAKE THE SURVEY BELOW to earn 5,000 bonus miles.

1. Read the “The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition & Physical Activity in our Schools” Power Point. Once you have read through this Power Point complete the next two activities:
   
   
   • Reflect on one thing that you and/or your school could do this school year to impact student nutrition.
   • Share the document “Breakfast=Achievement” with your school’s colleagues and administrators.
     
     
2. Read the document “Constructive Classroom Rewards: Promoting Good Habits While Protecting Children’s Health”.  Once you have read through this document complete the next two activities:
   
   
   • Reflect on ways that you can change the environment within your own classroom.
   • Share the document “Guide to Healthy Classroom Choices” with your colleagues and administrators and ask them to make changes to their classroom/school environment.