Nutrition Education and Services
Wellness Policy: Goal 3
The District will implement and promote a healthy school environment including nutrition education, proper dietary habits, and healthy nutrition choices contributing to students’ health and academic performance.
Nutrition education will be in accordance with the District’s academic standards for comprehensive health education. All foods and beverages sold or provided to students on the school campus during the school day shall meet or exceed the District’s nutrition standards. All schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs shall comply with state and federal rules or regulations regarding school meals, competitive food service and the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
In accordance with applicable federal law, schools shall comply with the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards in the marketing of any foods or beverages sold to students during the school day.
Nutrition Education
Schools shall comply with policy IHAMB, Comprehensive Health Education
Schools shall integrate nutrition education into lessons based on the Colorado Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health: Healthy Eating and District approved curriculum.
Nutrition education may be taught in, but not limited to physical education, science, comprehensive health, family and consumer science.
Nutrition Services School Meal Program
Food Safety
All food prepared in D51 kitchens shall meet or exceed the expectations set by the local Department of Public Health: Food Safety Guidelines.
School kitchen managers shall be Servsafe certified.
All other school kitchen staff will have a current Food Handlers card.
Nutrition Services Program: Mesa County School District 51 will meet or exceed the USDA’s Nutrition Standards for School Meals
Nutrition Services will meet or exceed all requirements of the Colorado Healthy School Meals for All legislation.
The school breakfast and lunch menus and nutritionals will be available on the District’s website
Did you know?
All D51 school culinary managers are ServeSafe certified.
All D51 schools are Mesa County Blue Ribbon awarded schools for the highest in food safety standards.
All menus/nutritionals are reviewed by the Colorado Department of Education Nutrition unit annually.
Each school provides scratch based cooking on site with local & state wide sourced salad bars.
Adequate Time to Eat
Breakfast: School shall allow a minimum of 10 minutes to eat school meals.
Lunch: Elementary schools shall allow a minimum of 20 minutes of seated time to eat school meals. Secondary schools shall allow a minimum of 15 minutes of seated time to eat school meals.
Did you know?
Nutritionists and health professionals recommend a minimum of 20 minutes to eat once a student receives their food.
Allowing students 20 minutes to eat lunch:
increases consumption of food and key nutrients.
Increases consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk.
decreases food waste.
allows students brains to recognize that they are full.
D51 will be working with school building teams to review and implement adequate time to eat.
You can learn more by visiting the CDC Healthy Schools website: Making Time for School Lunch.
Nutrition Education & Promotion
Nutrition education that occurs in the school cafeteria will be in accordance with the Colorado Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health Education.
Nutrition signage based on the USDA’s “MyPlate” shall be used in and around school cafeterias and teacher lounges.
Advertising foods/beverages that do not comply with the USDA Nutrition Standards for School or the USDA Smart Snack Guide is prohibited on school grounds.
Did you know?
All D51 schools meet and exceed all USDA nutrition education nutrition and promotion.
Snacks & Celebrations
When school staff chooses to provide a snack, the snack shall be from the approved smart snack list. Avoid providing snacks one hour prior to students’ lunch period.
School staff will promote and utilize the healthy school meal program for all student hunger and nutrition needs during the school day to provide proper nutrition, ensure student safety, minimize food waste and increase student achievement.
Snack guidelines do not apply to individual snacks or meals provided by the parent/guardian for their student.
School Wellness Teams shall promote and provide resources for non-food celebrations; birthdays, holidays and rewards.
School staff shall only provide nutrition service approved smart snacks when parents have not provided their student with a snack. Avoid providing snacks one hour prior to students’ lunch period.
Celebrations are encouraged to have healthy options from the approved smart snack list and be scheduled after lunch.
Celebrations foods (i.e. cupcakes, pizza, holiday treats) are allowed taking into consideration student food allergies.
The District shall promote and provide educational resources for non-food celebrations; birthdays, holidays and rewards.
Coming Soon Snack Station Info.pdfDid you know?
All D51 schools serve breakfast until 10 am. Students can eat in the cafeteria 30 minutes before the bell or receive a grab n go breakfast until 10am daily. Studies show students who eat breakfast do better on academic tests.
Colorado Healthy Beverages and Competitive Foods Policy
The District shall comply with the state “Healthy Beverages” requirements.
Competitive foods shall not be sold/provided in competition with the District’s food service program. Such competitive foods cannot be sold/provided 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after each scheduled meal service on any area of the school campus.
Did you know?
D51 offers expanded meal serve times starting 30 minutes before the first bell to 30 minutes after 2pm to ensure students have healthy options all day.
You can learn more about the CO Healthy Beverages and Competitive Foods Policy by clicking here.
Fundraisers
All school fundraisers shall comply with the Competitive Food Policy & USDA Smart Snack guidelines.
Does not apply to food fundraisers where food is consumed outside of normal school hours.
Schools will be allowed three (3) one-time fundraisers, per school, that are exempt from the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools Guidelines, per year.
USDA SS allfoods_fundraisers.pdfUSDA Smart Snack fundraisers fact sheet.pdfAccess to Water
All students and staff shall have access to safe water at no cost.
Hydration stations are encouraged in cafeterias and hallways.
Did you know?
Drinking water keeps brain cells active and balances the chemical process, helping to regulate stress and anxiety.
Having a well-hydrated brain benefits you by having improved concentration, balanced moods, better sleep and sustained memory function.
D51 Wellness Advisory Council has grant funded six schools to have better access to water bottle fill stations and will continue to seek grant opportunities for all other schools.
Student Hygiene
Students will have the opportunity to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before meals or any food consumption.
Did you know?
Students are encouraged to wash their hands before meals or any food consumption.
Click here for CDC’s hand washing recommendations.