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Blue Zones Project�Nutrition/Food Environment

StephanieJackson@Texashealth.org

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Policy 3: Discontinue Unhealthy Food Fundraisers

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Examples of Non Food Fundraisers

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  • Walk-a-thon (individual and company sponsors)

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  • School dance

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  • Backpacks, t-shirts, other swag

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  • $1 hat day

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  • $1 out of uniform day

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  • Spirit night at skating rink

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  • Car window flags

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  • Holiday wrapping paper

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Policy 4: USDA Smart Snacks and Concessions

  • Applied Learning Academy school dance
    • Baked whole grain chips
    • Smart Pop
    • Granola Bars
  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation
    • Food Calculator
    • Food Planner

https://foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org/calculator/

https://foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org/

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Applied Learning Academy school dance concessions

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Policy 6: Smarter Lunchroom

Boost Reimbursable Meals

  • Students prompted to select a fruit or vegetable
  • Fruits and vegetables renamed
  • Students pay for a la carte items with cash

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West Park Elementary Lunch Menu

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Policy 6: Smarter Lunchroom

Product Placement

White milk first

Prepared Fruit in baskets

    • White milk first in the beverage cooler
    • Whole fruit in bowls or baskets

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Policy 6 Smarter Lunchroom-Signage

Student Artwork at Dunbar High School

Posters Displayed at Westpark Elementary School

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Policy 7: Non Food Rewards

  • Best Practices
    • Skating parties
    • Bowling parties
    • Principal for a day
    • Extra recess time

Manuel Jara Elementary School

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Policy 9: Cafeteria Equipment

Manuel Jara Elementary School

Steamers and Warmers

No Fryers

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Policy 11: Nutrition Education

  • Agrilife Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
  • USDA provides free nutrition education curricula

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Bonnie Brae Elementary School

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Policy 15: Vending Machine Access

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences (TABS)

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Policy 19: Celebrations with Food

  • School Celebrations with food only once a month
  • Alternatives
    • Birthday pencils
    • Birthday announcements
  • What best practices work for your schools?

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Policy 21: Recess BEFORE Lunch

Rufino Mendoza Elementary School Master Schedule

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Program Pledge Items

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Program 3: Farm-to-School

  • Bonus Activities
    • Taste test
    • Farm field trip
    • Farmer visit to school
  • Brighter Bites
    • https://www.brighterbites.org/

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Garden + Nutrition Education + bonus activity = Farm-to-School

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Program 5: Salad Bar

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  • Prepackaged salads are allowed
  • Alternative options
    • Vegetable omelet bar
    • Fruit smoothie bar
  • Several schools in FWISD were awarded grants from Salad Bars to Schools

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Program 6: In-Class Breakfast

  • FWISD Kickstart with Breakfast
    • Goal is to have breakfast in classroom for all elementary schools
  • Grab and Go Option
  • Grants Available for funding

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Program 7: Healthy Snack or Cooking Cart

  • USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
  • Parents send snacks from healthy snack list

Rufino Mendoza Elementary School Provides Snacks from Tarrant Area Food Bank

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Program 12: Whole Foods vs. Processed Food

Timberview Middle School – staff training

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Program 15: Scratch Cooking

  • Chopping fresh produce
  • Homemade Pizzas
  • Homemade Enchiladas

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Timberview Middle School

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Lunchbox Toolbox