Healthy Eating
A healthy diet and good nutrition are fundamental to healthy living. Schools are in a unique position to promote healthy eating for both students and school employees, and to provide support systems for families who may be struggling with hunger, basic nutrition, or access to food.
Good nutrition at school and throughout the school day is critical to a student’s health and ability to learn. School breakfast and lunch programs may account for more than half of a child’s daily calorie intake. So it’s vital that nutrition policies and provisions support students in developing and sustaining healthy eating habits.
Additionally, encouraging healthy choices for school employees supports them in their overall health.
Schools have both the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that their cafeterias, vending machines, snack bars, staff break rooms, and school events offer only nutritious foods and beverages — that is, foods high in nutrients but low in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. You can encourage healthy choices, for school employees as well as students, by implementing strategies in your school community that make healthier food options the norm.
Schools are increasingly becoming a hub for resources to address hunger and support food security. Leveraging schools to improve access to food is a critical way to improve the health and well-being of children and people who support them.
