NEW SCHOOL BOARD POLICY ON FOOD, RECESS CONSIDERED TONIGHT

The Board of Education tonight will consider a revised Wellness Policy that appears to provide more specific restrictions on items to be sold in schools and promotes recess as a way to improve physical activity.

The policy provides new guidelines stating that recess should take place before lunch whenever possible, withholding recess should not be a form of punishment, teachers should not keep children out of recess to complete academic work, and should promote physical activity during recess.

The new food policy says, in part:

Any food sold in schools must:

•     Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or

 

•     Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or  

•     Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or

 

•   Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).

 

•   Meet the minimum nutrient requirements stated in the New Jersey State Department of Agriculture guidelines.

 

Nutrition Standards for Beverages:

  

All schools may sell:  

•  All beverages offered for sale do not exceed 12 ounces, except water.  

•  In elementary schools only water, milk (non-fat or unflavored 1%) and 100% fruit or vegetable juice is offered for sale.

•  In middle and high schools, at least 60% of all beverages, other than water and milk (non-fat or unflavored 1%) must be 100 % fruit or vegetable juice.  

•   In middle schools and high schools the 40% “other” beverages that are offered meet the standards set forth in the adopted nutrition policy.

   Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of milk and juice. There is no portion size limit for plain water

The entire agenda and a link to the full policy is HERE.