Food Service - Nutrition & Wellness Policy

Student Welfare and Wellness

Rationale:

The link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning is well documented. Healthy eating and activity patterns are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being.

Breckinridge County Public Schools is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. To this end, the Board supports school efforts to implement the following:

All students will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis as provided by school/council policy.
Foods and beverages sold or served during the school day are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
To the maximum extent practicable, schools will participate in available federal school meal programs.
Schools will provide and promote nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity and will establish linkages between health education, school meal programs, and related community services.

A process shall be implemented to engage students, parents, physical and/or health education teachers, school food service professionals, school health professionals, school board members, school administrators, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing this policy.

Commitment to Nutrition

- School meals and snacks will the meet the meal patterns and nutrition recommendations of the Federal and State Laws and Regulations and local requirements.
- Every effort will be made to provide affordable, healthy, and appealing foods to students in a clean, pleasant setting that minimizes distractions.
- School Nutrition Personnel will work closely with the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) to make reasonable accommodations for students with disability or

other special dietary needs. Meal modification forms must be completed and signed by a physician or other medical authority.

- School cafeteria managers shall annually receive at least two (2) hours of continuing education in applied nutrition and healthy meal planning and preparation

(KY Senate Bill 172)

- Schools will notify parents and students of the availability of the School Breakfast and Lunch Program.
- Drinking water is available to students free of charge at all times during meal service.
- Food rewards are discouraged.
- All schools shall maintain compliance with the District’s Competitive Foods policy, which summarizes federal and state regulations prohibiting the sale or

serving of competitive foods and beverages (vending machines etc.) until at least 30 minutes past the end of the last lunch period.

- For the safety and well-being of our students parents and teachers may bring food in for their child’s meal only, during these times.
- Staff and parents should receive guidance from the school on foods appropriate to serve to students.
- To ensure that all foods served to children are safe and sanitary, all items provided by personnel or parents/others at school must be purchased and

pre-packaged, rather than homemade, and include an ingredient label to address food allergies, diabetic concerns and other related health concerns.

Nutrition Education and Promotion

Each school is encouraged to provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:

- is offered at each grade level as part of a sequential, comprehensive, standards-based program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
- is part of health education classes and classroom instruction in subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, and elective subjects;
- promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices;

Commitment to Physical Activity:

- - School will provide physical education for all students as required by Federal and State Laws and Regulations and local requirements.
  - Schools will provide a physical and social environment that encourages safe and enjoyable activity for all students.
  - Provide a comprehensive physical education curriculum that is sequential and aligned to the Kentucky Core Academic Standards for practical living.
  - Teachers are encouraged to incorporate physical activity into subject areas and in attempt to ensure physical education curriculum is integrated and

includes regular opportunities for cross-disciplinary connections.

- - Students will be engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 50% of physical education class time.
  - Physical education requirements are not waived for disciplinary reasons.
  - All teachers who teach health education are encouraged to participate in annual professional development on effective practices for physical education for a minimum of 3 contact hours.
Commitment to Implementation:
- - A School Health Committee consisting of a group of individuals representing the school and community will meet a minimum of 2 times a year to

assess school wellness efforts.

- - The school’s wellness goals will be integrated into the overall School Improvement Plan.
  - Family members and guardians have the opportunity to provide input to the implementation of wellness policy activities.
  - Staff will be encouraged to model healthy behaviors and encourage students to make good nutrition choices and promote the benefits of physical activity.

Monitoring

The Superintendent/designee will monitor compliance with this and related policies. At the school level, the Principal/designee will monitor compliance with those policies in his/her school and will report on the school's compliance as directed by the Superintendent/designee.

Progress Report

The District shall periodically measure and update the public on the content and progress of implementation of its school wellness efforts. The report shall include:

1. Extent to which the District is in compliance with this policy;

2. A comparison of how the District measures up to model wellness policies provided by recognized state and national authorities; and

3. A description of the measurable progress made towards reaching goals of the District wellness policy and addressing any gaps identified in the

wellness report for the previous year.

FOOD ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

SUPPORT SERVICES

The District School Nutrition Program shall provide modified menus of food preparation for students as required by their individual education plan (IEP), Section 504 plan, or health plan.

The District School Nutrition Program shall be informed of any student who is unable to consume the meals normally served at the school in which they are enrolled.

Nutrition Program services shall provide for substitution of food items based on child-specific medical guidance.

PARENTAL ASSISTANCE

Parent/Guardian will:

Notify the administration of the school in which their child is enrolled in of any dietary accommodations.
Provide medical information from a District-approved recognized medical authority (RMA) authorized to practice within the State of Kentucky as noted in the student's IEP, 504 plan, or health plan.
Provide updated medical information as requested by the District.
Participate in any meetings or discussions regarding the student's meal plan.
Notify the school of any changes relating to the food allergy or special dietary need.

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify children requiring special dietary modifications.
The Principal or designee shall refer a student with known or suspected special dietary needs for special services as required by law and shall notify the Special Education Director, Section 504 Coordinator, school nurse or health services assistant, as appropriate, given the nature of the medical requirement or disabling condition known or suspected.
The Principal or designee shall make staff and students aware of precautions needed related to field trips, classroom parties, allergy alert identifications, intervention strategies, and other issues necessary to promote student safety.
The school nurse or the school nurse assistant, as appropriate, shall communicate plan requirements to all potential plan implementers, such as designated School Nutrition staff, the student's teachers, etc.
Monitor and update the IEP, Section 504 plan, or health plan as needed.

FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide food item services and/or substitutions for students based on medical need. Menus will not be modified based on personal preference.
Provide training to school nutrition personnel on how to react to food allergies and food-related emergencies and how to modify menus.
Maintain special dietary information on each student identified as having special dietary needs and update this information as needed.