Wellness Policy
PURPOSE
Assure an environment that promotes and protects resident’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.
POLICY
Juvenile Center (JC) provides a healthy environment and believes nutrition and physical education are the foundation in education which enhances attendance and academic success.
The JC will ensure that resident’s:
1. Have access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active daily.
2. Have access to a variety of nutritious foods that meet adolescent’s health and nutritional needs.
3. Have food provided by qualified food and nutrition services personnel.
4. Religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity will be taken into consideration in meal planning.
5. Have clean, safe, and pleasant setting for meals.
6. Are provided an environment that promotes and protects health, well-being, and ability to learn by offering healthy eating and physical activity.
PROCEDURE
1. Foods and Beverages Served During the School Day:
a. All foods and beverages are consistent with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and current USDA regulations.
i. Food/beverages offered during a school week are nutrient-dense, including whole grain products, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables which provides choices and a balanced diet.
ii. Foods/beverages include a variety of healthy choices and served at proper temperatures.
iii. Foods/beverages minimize the use of trans/saturated fats, sodium and sugars as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
b. Food and Nutrition Services personnel take reasonable measures to ensure access to foods/ beverages meet or exceed current federal, state, and local guidelines.
c. Provide hand washing/sanitizing time before meals/snacks and free potable drinking water.
d. Provide sufficient time to eat after sitting down for meals.
e. Do not allow food/beverage sharing with anyone at any time due to allergies or other restrictions.
f. Provide breakfast to everyone that meets their nutritional needs and enhances learning.
g. Operate and follow current USDA regulations.
2. Snacks: Snacks served during the school day (including breakfast and/or enrichment programs) contribute positively to children’s diets and health and include whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy as the primary snack options.
3. Field Trips/Community Service: When planning an off grounds event during a scheduled lunch period, JC staff will collaborate with Food and Nutrition Services to provide a meal.
4. School Food and Nutrition Program/Personnel: Provide healthy and safe school meals that comply with federal, state, local statutes and regulations.
a. For the safety and security of the food and facility, access to the Food and Nutrition Services operations are limited to Food and Nutrition Staff and authorized personnel.
b. The contracted Food and Nutrition Services provider is responsible for JC meal plans. Duties include creating nutrition guidelines and procedures for the selection of foods and beverages served during the school day and ensuring that food and beverage choices are consistent with current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
c. Food and nutrition services provides nutrient analysis for all meals and posts printed menus.
5. Nutrition Education and Promotion:
The JC encourages and supports healthy eating and promotes nutrition that is:
a. Offered as part of a comprehensive program designed to provide knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect health;
b. Integrated into various PINES school curriculum areas where appropriate;
c. Enjoyable, developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, and includes participatory activities.
d. Staff involved in nutrition education will be adequately prepared and participate in professional development activities to effectively deliver current nutrition education.
e. Preparation and professional development activities will provide evidence-based knowledge of nutrition and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.
f. All staff are encouraged to be role models for healthy behaviors.
IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING
1. After approval, the Wellness Policy will be implemented in all the JC programs.
2. Per the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” requirements, a Wellness Committee will monitor the JC implementation of this Wellness Policy. The Wellness Committee will meet annually to review and update the Wellness Policy guidelines and language.
3. The Superintendent ensures Wellness Policy compliance and document annual review and update as needed.