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Health Topics
Nutrition
Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools
The school environment is one of several settings that can influence
children’s food choices and eating habits. Schools can ensure that the
available food and beverage options are healthy and help youth eat food that
meets dietary recommendations for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
nonfat or low-fat dairy products.
To provide schools with guidance on improving the foods and beverages
offered to students, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
conducted a study with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review the science
and make recommendations about nutrition standards for foods and beverages
offered in direct competition with school-provided meals and snacks. The
study resulted in a report entitled,
Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way toward Healthier Youth.
Fact Sheets
Using the findings of the IOM Report, CDC developed a set of four
audience-specific fact sheets as a resource for school staff, parents, and
youth to use to support and develop strong nutrition standards that can
impact the health of students at school. These fact sheets are designed to
answer commonly asked questions about the report and provide
recommendations for implementing the nutrition standards.
What You Can Do
Use CDC’s fact sheet series as a resource to help develop
and support strong nutrition standards for foods and beverages in schools by:
- Reviewing your school wellness policy
to help ensure that the nutrition guidelines align with the IOM standards
and that students have access to healthy foods like fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy during each school
day.
- Examining the actual foods and beverages
that are available to students—including foods and beverages sold in
vending machines, school stores, snack bars and as a' la carte items—and
determining if they meet the nutrition standards.
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Educating students about nutrition and
offering and promoting healthy food and beverage choices that meet the
nutrition standards.
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