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Food & Nutrition Management

 

 Food & Nutrition Management 

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Team Nutrition

The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Management encourages and supports schools and school districts that utilize two USDA initiatives described below.

Team Nutrition

Team Nutrition is an initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service for federal Child Nutrition Programs. Schools involved in the initiative are required to:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to help students meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
  • Provide nutrition education for children and parents, and
  • Build school and community support around a healthy school environment.

Schools may join Team Nutrition at no cost. Participation provides schools with e-mails containing nutrition information, a free resource kit, and technical assistance with school team efforts. For more information, please visit USDA’s Web site.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces $5.8 Million in Nutrition Grants to Improve Health of America's Children

HealthierUS School Challenge

Go for the gold with the HealthierUS School Challenge Award! Elementary schools are eligible to apply for this award established to recognize schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. Schools can be certified as either Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold Distinction Schools.

Beginning January 1, 2009 a new basic set of criteria must be met:

  • be an elementary school
  • be enrolled as a Team Nutrition School
  • offer reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu practices and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and that meet USDA nutrition standards
  • provide nutrition education to students
  • provide students the opportunity for physical activity
  • maintain an Average Daily Participation of school enrollment for reimbursable lunches of at least 62 percent for Bronze or 70 percent for Silver and Gold Schools, and
  • adhere to guidelines established by FNS for foods served or sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program.

HealthierUS School Challenge Online Application

To access the HUSSC interactive online application forms, please visit http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/HUSSC/.

HealthierUS School Challenge Florida Award Winners

  • Santa Rosa County School District (05/09 – 04/11)
    • W. H. Rhodes Elementary School (Silver)
  • Osceola County School District (09/08 - 09/10)
    • Sunrise Elementary (Silver)
    • Central Avenue Elementary (Silver)
    • Reedy Creek Elementary (Silver)
    • Thacker Avenue Elementary (Silver)
  • Brevard County School Board (09/07 - 06/10)
    • Jupiter Elementary School (Silver)

What is Different Between the 2004 Criteria and the 2008 Criteria?

Comparison Chart for 2004 and 2008 HUSSC Criteria (PDF, 84KB)

Resources

The following resources are available to assist schools in the process:

Contact

State Assistance:
Rachael Terrin
Florida Department of Education
Office of Food and Nutrition Management
1-800-504-6609