Nutrition Suggestions

Provide leadership in helping citizens to make healthy eating and lifestyle choices by implementing one or more of the following suggestions:

Children cannot go without food as long as adults can. Since children don't eat a lot of food at any one meal, they often need some food between meals to complete their daily energy requirements. Snacks should not be eaten too close to the next meal or children will not be hungry for foods served at mealtime. Allow at least one hour between snack time and meal time. Check out the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to find out more about energy requirements for children.
Create a policy to provide healthy choices of food and drink (water, juice, low fat milk/yogurt, fruits, vegetables, salads, low fat foods) in vending machines, snack rooms, and/or cafeteria in facilities operated by your facility, church or school as well as during events, meetings, and conferences.
Provide breastfeeding-friendly places for mothers and infants.
In collaboration with local churches and businesses, establish new or additional farmer’s market(s) following the SC Department of Agriculture certification process (consider Senior Farmer’s Market, mobile and non-traditional settings).
Work with local restaurants to implement a healthy dining program to provide and highlight healthy dining options; this should also include a healthy dining certificate/award.
Provide access and incentives to wellness counseling services and / or disease management programs to include nutrition, breastfeeding, weight loss, physical activity, and stress management; provide health risk appraisals and nutrition interventions to those with a BMI of 25 or greater.
Provide incentives for those employees who document the attainment of established and significant weight reduction goals or who are at a healthy BMI.
Disseminate nutrition information by utilizing web sites, bulletin boards, bulletins, and/or newsletters.
Provide health education seminars on various nutrition topics (e.g. weight management, healthy cooking, 5-A-Day, heart healthy eating, etc.).
Participate in a national health campaign such as National Nutrition Month or National 5 A Day Month or the 5 A Day For Better Health Grocery Store Produce Department Tour.
If your facility is a childcare center, implement a nutrition curriculum (e.g. Color Me Healthy, etc.).
If you are an elementary school, become a Gold certified HealthierUS School through the Office of School Food Services and Nutrition, SC State Department of Education and USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
If you are an elementary school, become a Silver certified HealthierUS School through the Office of School Food Services and Nutrition SC State Department of Education, and USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
If you are a middle or a high school, become a USDA/Team Nutrition School (this will be available in School Year 2005-06).
If you are a school, establish requirements (policies) for the school nutrition environment, school meals and competitive foods based on the recommendations outlined in the State Department of Education Task Force on Student Nutrition and Physical Activity report.
If you are a school, establish policies on Nutrition Quality of Foods and Beverages Sold and Served on Campus and Nutrition and Physical activity Promotion and Food Marketing as defined by the Model School Wellness Policies, National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity.
If you are a school, establish a wellness policy that includes all seven components as outlined by the Model Local Wellness Policy (pdf) by the School Nutrition Association.
For public schools, offer alternative breakfast service such as breakfast in the classroom, breakfast after first period, or grab n’go breakfast and provide breakfast opportunities for children riding late buses.
For non-public schools: offer both a school lunch and a school breakfast program.
If you are a school, offer nutrition education in the school dining room and in the classroom with coordination between school food services staff and teachers by utilizing Fruits and Vegetables Galore from USDA or an equivalent program (check with the district’s food service director).
If you are a school, recognize teachers that utilize an interdisciplinary curriculum approach to incorporate nutrition into lesson plans (e.g. Planet Health and Eat Well, Move More - visit www.HumanKinetics.com for ideas).

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Nutrition Suggestions