Overview of Nutrition Policies
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Portland Public Schools School Nutrition Toolkit Administration Ira Waltz, Acting Superintendent David Galin, Chief Academic Officer Learning to Succeed Michael Wilson, Chief Financial Officer Peter Eglinton, Chief Operations Officer 196 Allen Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 (207) 874-8100 August 1, 2012 Dear PPS School Community Member, The Portland Board of Public Education recently approved wellness policies designed to significantly improve student health and wellness. The policies are an important step forward for Portland Public Schools. They acknowledge the role that schools play in students’ health and life long wellness. The wellness policies were developed over the last five years with extensive input from parents, students, and staff. Together they represent a comprehensive, yet practical approach to improving all students’ ability to take full advantage of the educational opportunities at Portland Public Schools. The importance of children’s health is underscored by efforts such as Michele Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, Maine’s Let’s Go! program, and the Healthier US School Challenge program, which recently recognized Portland elementary schools for creating healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. These initiatives signal urgency in reversing the obesity epidemic, and in promoting healthy lifestyles for every student. Portland Public Schools takes this challenge seriously and is committed to supporting student health through implementation of these policies. One of the most significant changes of the wellness policies is the nutrition expectation for all foods and beverages available in the school environment. The standards apply to foods and beverages that are sold, such as through vending machines, and food and beverages that are offered, such as through school celebrations. The new standards improve minimum nutrition content of food and beverages in schools as well as extend when and there those standards apply. The Toolkit is designed to support parents, staff, and other school community members as we move forward with full implementation of these policies during the 2012-2013 school year. The Toolkit contains copies of the new policies and overviews of how the policies impact schools and school events, provides resources to implement the new expectations, and includes documentation supporting these changes. We welcome your comments and participation during these exciting times! Sincerely, Chanda Turner, M.Ed. School Health Coordinator Equal Opportunity Employer www.portlandschools.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Introductory Letter from School Health Coordinator Overview Summary of Major Changes Food and Beverages Policies Flow Chart Frequently Asked Questions Nutrition Related Policies Overview of Nutrition Policies Nutrition Standards for Foods and Beverages Policy (EFEA) Local Wellness Policy (JL) Competitive Foods Sales – Sales in Competition with the School Food Service Program (EFE) Resources for Nutrition Standards Foods: Healthier US School Challenge Food Standard (HUSSC) Let’s Go! Sample Product List Beverages: Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG) Beverage Standard Sample Coke Product List Resources for School Celebrations Healthy Celebrations Handout Healthy School Parties Resource Resources for Fundraisers Healthy Fundraisers Handout Sweat Deals: Fundraisers Can Be Healthy and Profitable Resources for Concessions Healthy Concessions Handout Maine’s Law Banning Food Ads in Schools: Understanding the Law Other Resources for Healthy Eating Choose My Plate: 10 Tips to a Great Plate 25 Snacks for Kids: American Dietetic Association’s Eat Right Tips Child Nutrition Policy Brief Overview ! Summary of Major Changes ! Flow Sheet for Nutrition Policies ! Frequently Asked Questions Administration Dr. James C. Morse, Sr., Superintendent David Galin, Chief Academic Officer Learning to Succeed Michael Wilson, Chief Financial Officer Peter Eglinton, Chief Operations Officer 196 Allen Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 (207) 874-8100 Summary of Major Wellness Related Policy Changes - Spring 2012 The Portland Board of Public Education has approved changes to six wellness-related policies. The updated policies are: • Local Wellness [JL] • Health Education [IHAM] • Competitive Food Sales [EFE] • Walk and Bike to School [JLID] • Nutrition Standards for Food and Bev. [EFEA] • Student Discipline [JK] The following is a summary of the major operating procedure changes represented by these policy changes: • Food may no longer be used as a reward for behavior or performance. [JL] • Physical activity periods (such as PE and recess) may not be denied to students as punishment or discipline. [JK] • Physical activity periods (such as PE and recess) may not be used for student remediation or enrichment. [JL] • Elementary students must be given at last thirty minutes of physical activity opportunities daily (such as recess, PE, and/or active learning in the classroom). [JL] • Staff are no longer exempt under nutrition standards. [EFE] • Community events are no longer exempt under nutrition standards. [EFE] • All vending sales and operations now under the direction of the food services department. [EFE] • Minimum nutrition standard for food is Healthier US Schools Challenge Gold Level (HUSSC). [EFEA] • Minimum nutrition standard for beverages is Alliance for Healthier Generation High School Standards (AHG). [EFEA] • During the School Day [EFE & EFEA]: o All food and bevearges sold must be under the direction of the food services department. o All food and beverages offered must meet minimum nutrition standards (HUSSC & AHG). o School groups must meet standards even when off campus. • Before and After the School Day [EFE & EFEA]: o All packaged foods and beverages must meet standards (HUSSC & AHG). o At least 50% of non-packaged food must meet standards (HUSSC & AHG). o Applies to all food beverages offered or sold by a school-approved organization or group. o Applies off campus when a school group is responsible for the sales or offering. • Sets guidelines and procedures for safe walking and biking to and from school. [JLID] • Encourages the use of non-food items for classroom parties, school celebrations, and fundraisers. [JL] • Encourages guidelines for healthy lunch periods including recess before lunch and minimum eating times. [JL] • Encourages healthy school environments that support healthy eating and physical activity to support health education. [IHAM] • Implements a new system of monitoring and communication of wellness policies. [JL] Equal Opportunity Employer www.portlandschools.org Is the food or beverage for an individual? (Ex. - parents sending for their child or staff for themselves.) Portland Public Schools Food and Beverage Policies Flow Chart NO - Is it for YES: No during the school restrictions apply. day? YES: ~All food and beverages sales by Food Services ONLY ~All food and beverages must meet district standards ~No food can be used as a reward NO - Are food or ~Applies on and off school beverages being sold? campus ~Non-school groups required to follow on school campus ~Examples include school celebrations, parties, and school events YES - Is a school group, NO - Is food or beverage being such as boosters, clubs, or provided for a school group teams doing the selling? such as a team, club, or class? YES: ~Packaged food and beverages YES: must meet district standards ~Packaged food and beverages ~At least half of non-packaged must meet district standards NO: No restriction food and beverages must meet NO - Is the ~At least half of non-packaged apply. Examples district standards. event/sale on food and beverages must meet include adult sports ~Applies on and off school school campus? district standards. league and other campus. ~Examples include school facility rentals*. ~Examples include events and nourishment for concessions, bake sales, and sports teams. other food fundraisers. NO: No restrictions Yes - Is it a apply. Examples include school sponsored restaraunt nights and event? non-school concessions. *Groups renting school facilities are subject to additional food regulations as listed in the facilities rental YES: policies and contracts. ~Packaged food and NO: No restrictions beverages must meet district apply. Examples include standards facilities rentals and ~At least half of non- other community packaged food and events.* beverages must meet district standards. Frequently Asked Questions about the PPS’s Wellness Policies: A Guide for Parents Six wellness policies were approved by the Portland Board of Public Education in the 2011/2012 school year. They represent a, district-wide approach to ensuring that our learning environments support healthy practices that promote student health. What are nutrition standards? The Nutrition Standards for Foods and Beverages Policy sets nutritional criteria for all foods and beverages available in the school environment. The standards apply to foods and beverages available during the school day such as at school celebrations, and before and after the school day such as at sporting events or fundraisers when food and beverages are sold by a school or school group. When do the nutrition standards apply? The nutrition standards apply to schools and school approved groups at events on school property and events off school property, such as during a school sponsored field trip or by a booster groups’ sale of concessions at a City owned facility or field. During the school day only PPS Foodservices can sell foods and beverages. How