Healthy School Environment

Keys to promoting healthy eating in schools: How does your school measure up?

Students, parents, educators and community leaders are involved in assessing the school's eating environment, developing a shared vision and an action plan to achieve it.
Adequate funds are provided by local, state and federal sources to ensure that the total school environment supports the development of healthy eating patterns.
Behavior-focused nutrition education is integrated into the curriculum from pre-K through grade 12.
School meals meet the USDA nutrition standards as well as provide sufficient choices, including new foods and foods prepared in new ways to meet the taste preferences of diverse student populations.
All students have designated lunch periods of sufficient length to enjoy eating healthy foods with friends.
Schools provide enough serving areas to ensure student access to school meals with a minimum of wait time.
Space that is adequate to accommodate all students and pleasant surroundings that reflect the value of social aspects of eating will be provided.
Students, teachers and community volunteers who practice healthy eating are encouraged to serve as role models in the school dining areas.
If foods are sold in addition to National School Lunch Program meals, they are from the five major food groups of the Food Guide Pyramid.
Decisions regarding the sale of foods in addition to the National School Lunch Program Meals will be based on nutrition goals, not on profit making.