Hasbrouck Heights School District
379 Boulevard
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
201-288-6150
 Modified: April 11, 2008
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Nutritional Policy

 

Nutritional Policy

Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education                           File Code 5141.8
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ  07604
Policy

Nutrition

The Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education recognizes that child and adolescent obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States and that poor diet combined with the lack of physical activity negatively impacts on students’ health, and their ability and motivation to learn.  The Board is committed to:

  • Providing students with healthy and nutritious foods;
  • Encouraging the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat milk and whole grains;
  • Supporting healthy eating through nutrition education;
  • Encouraging students to select and consume all components of the school meal; and,
  • Providing students with the opportunity to engage in daily physical activity.

All reimbursable meals, when applicable, shall meet Federal nutrient standards as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Program regulations.  All items served as part of the After School Snack Program shall meet the standards as outlined within this policy.

The following items may not be served, sold or given out as free promotion anywhere on school property at anytime before the end of the school day:

  • Foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) as defined by U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations;
  • All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form, as the first ingredient; and
  • All forms of candy.

Schools shall reduce the purchase of any products containing trans fats.  (Federal labeling of trans fats on all food products is required by January 1, 2006.)

All snack and beverage items sold or served anywhere on school property during the school day, including items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, snack bars, school stores and fund raisers or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, when applicable, shall met the following standards:

Based on manufacturer’s nutritional data or nutrient facts labels:

    1. No more than eight grams of total fat per serving, with the exception of nuts and seeds.
      • No more than two grams of saturated fat per serving.
    2. All beverages shall not exceed 12 ounces, with the following exceptions:
      • Water
      • Milk containing two percent or less fat.
    3. Whole milk shall not exceed eight ounces.

In elementary schools:

  • 100 percent of all beverages offered shall be milk, water or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.

In middle and high schools:

  • At least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk and water, shall be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.
  • No more than 40 percent of all ice cream/frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat, and saturated fat.

Food and beverages served during special school celebrations or during curriculum related activities shall be exempt from this policy, with the exception of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by USDA regulations.

This policy does not apply to:  medically authorized special needs diets pursuant to 7 CFR Part 210; school nurses using FMNVs during the course of providing health care to individual students; or special needs students whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) indicates their use for behavior modification.

Adequate time shall be allowed for student meal service and consumption.   Schools shall provide a pleasant dining environment.  The Board recommends that physical education or recess be scheduled before lunch whenever possible.

The school district’s curriculum shall incorporate nutrition education and physical activity consistent with the New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum Standards.

The Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education is committed to promoting the Nutrition Policy with all food service personnel, teachers, nurses, coaches and other school administrative staff so they have the skills they need to implement this policy and promote healthy eating practices.  The Board will work toward expanding awareness about this policy among students, parents, teachers and the community at large.

 

Approved:  April 19, 2006

 

Nutritional Regulations

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS BOARD OF EDUCATION                             FILE CODE: 5141.8
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. 07604                                                                       
REGULATION

Nutrition

I.                         SCHOOL HEALTH COUNCILS
The school district and/or individual schools within the district will create school health councils to develop, implement, monitor, review and as necessary, revise school nutrition policies. The councils will also serve as resources to schools for implementing those policies (A school health council consists of a group of individuals representing the school and community and should include parents, students, representatives of school food provider, members of the board, school administrators, teachers, health professionals and members of the public.

II.            NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES SOLD AND SERVED
School Meals:
Meals Served Will Be:
•         Appealing and attractive to children
•         Be served in clean and pleasant settings
•         Meet at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by local, state and federal statutes and regulations
•         Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables
•         Serve low fat and fat free milk and nutritionally equivalent non-dairy alternatives
•         Ensure that half of the served grains are whole grains

Schools should engage students and parents in surveys for selecting foods sold through the school meal programs in order to identify new, healthful appealing food choices. In addition, schools should share information about the nutritional content of meals with parents and students. Such information could be made available on menus, a website, cafeteria menu boards etc.

Breakfast: To ensure that all children have breakfast in order to meet their nutritional needs and enhance their ability to learn:

  • Schools will encourage parents to provide a healthy breakfast for their children through newsletter articles, take home materials, or other means.

Meal Times and Scheduling:   Schools

  • Will provide students with a daily lunch period, not to be less than 20 minutes, between the hours of 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
  • Should not permit a student to miss lunch for tutoring, clubs, or organizational meetings or activities.
  • Will provide students access to hand washing or hand sanitizing before eating meals or snacks and
  • Should take reasonable steps to accommodate the teeth brushing regimens of students with special oral health needs (eg. orthodontic).

Sharing of Foods and Beverages Schools should discourage students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times given concern about allergies and other restrictions on some children’s diets.

Foods and Beverages Sold Individually (ie. Foods sold through vending machines, snack lines (cafeteria ala carte, fundraisers, school stores, etc.):

Middle School/High School - All foods and beverages sold individually including those sold ala carte (Snack lines), vending machines, student stores or fundraising activities during the school day, or through programs for students after the school day, will meet the following nutritional and portion size standards.

Beverages

  • Allowed:  water or seltzer without added caloric sweeteners, fruit and vegetable juices and fruit based drinks that contain in at least 50% fruit juice and that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners, unflavored or flavored low fat milk and nutritionally equivalent non-dairy beverages (to be defined by the USDA).

Foods
A food item sold individually:

  • Will have no more than 35%of its calories from fat excluding nuts, seeds, peanut butter and other nut butters and 10% of its calories from saturated and bran’s fat combined
  • Will have no more than 35% of its weight from added sugars
  • Will contain no more than 230 mg of sodium per serving for chips, cereals, crackers, French fries, baked goods and other snack items, no more than 400 mg of sodium per serving for pasta, meats, soups, and no more than 600mg of sodium for pizza, sandwiches, and main dishes
  • A choice of at least two fruits and/or non-fried vegetables will be offered for sale at any location on the school site where foods are sold.

Portion Sizes:
Limit portion sizes of foods and beverages sold individually to those listed below:

  • 1 1/4ounces for chips, crackers, popcorn, cereal, trail mix, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or jerky
  • One ounce for cookies
  • Two ounces for cereal bars, granola bars, pastries, muffins, doughnuts, bagels and other bakery items
  • Four fluid ounces for frozen desserts including but not limited to low fat or fat free ice cream
  • Eight ounces for non-frozen yogurt
  • Twelve fluid ounces for beverages, excluding water and
  • The portion size of a la carte entrees and side dishes, including potatoes, will not be greater than the size of comparable portions offered as part of school meals. Fruits and non-fried vegetables are exempt from portion size limits

Fundraising Activities: To support children’s health and school nutrition- education efforts, school fundraising activities will not involve food or will use only foods that meet the above nutrition and portion sizes for foods and beverages sold individually. Schools should encourage fundraising activities that promote physical activities.

Snacks: Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children’s diets and health, with emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snack. Schools will assess if and when to offer snacks based on timing of school meals, children’s nutritional needs, children’s ages, and other considerations. The district will disseminate a list of healthful snack items to teachers, after school program personnel and parents.

Rewards: Schools will not use foods or beverages as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages as a punishment.

Celebrations: Schools should limit celebrations that involve food during the school day. The district will disseminate a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers to promote nutritionally sound food and beverages.

School Sponsored Events: Foods and beverages offered or sold at school-sponsored events outside the school day will meet the nutrition standards for meals or for foods and beverages sold individually.

Nutrition Education and Promotion:
The Hasbrouck Heights School District aims to teach, encourage and support healthy eating by students. Schools should provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:

  • Is offered at each grade level as part of a sequential, comprehensive, standards-based program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health
  • Is part of not only health education classes, but also classroom instruction in subjects such as math, science, language arts, social studies and elective subjects
  • Includes enjoyable, developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, participating activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing etc.
  • Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low fat and fat free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods and health enhancing nutrition practices.
  • Emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (physical activity/exercise)
  • Teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food marketing and
  • Includes training for teachers and other staff

III. Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV)
The following is a list of food items that are not allowed to be sold, given away, or used as a fundraiser during the school day in grades Pre-K through 12 as defined by the US Department of Agriculture. This applies to all school events, celebrations and rewards during the school day.

      1. soda
      2. water ice- Italian Ice & Ice Pops
      3. chewing gum
      4. hard candy- lollipops, candy sticks, sour balls, rock candy, Jolly Ranchers, breath mints, etc.
      5. Jelly candies and gum candies- gum drops, jelly beans, jellied and fruit slices.
      6. marshmallow candies
      7.  fondants- candy corn, soft mints, etc.
      8. licorice
      9. spun candy- cotton candy
      10. candy coated popcorn- caramel corn

 

IV. Miscellaneous

  • Cupcakes for birthdays at Lincoln and Euclid Schools will be limited to grades Pre-K through second.
    • Children may bring in cupcakes for their class only.
    • Children in grades 3 through 5 may create a birthday bulletin.
  • PTA Parties:
    • 3 parties per year with parents.
    • 3 drop-off parties per year. Parents may stay if requested by the teacher.
  • PTA lunches will be a maximum of one per week
  • PTA Food Sales will be at the discretion of the principals, as long as both schools have the opportunity to participate.  No FMNU’s allowed.

Approved:  August 31, 2006