Wellness Policy

According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture:

The Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) expands the scope of wellness policies; brings in additional stakeholders in its development, implementation and review; and requires public updates on the content and implementation of the wellness policies.

Local School Wellness Policy

Each local education agency must designate one or more local education agency officials or school officials to ensure that each school complies with the local wellness policy. At a minimum, a local school wellness policy must:

  • Include goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.
  • Include nutrition guidelines to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity for all foods available in each school district.
  • Permit parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators, and the general public to participate in the development, implementation, and review and update of the local wellness policy.
  • Inform and update the public (including parents, students, and others in the community) about the content and implementation of local wellness policies.
  • Be measured periodically on the extent to which schools are in compliance with the local wellness policy, the extent to which the local education agency’s local wellness policy compares to model local school wellness policies, and the progress made in attaining the goals of the local wellness policy, and make this assessment available to the public.

Sample Wellness Policy Goals

  1. Goals for Nutrition Promotion
    • Age-appropriate nutrition promotion materials in areas where food is served, encouraging good nutrition
    • The school lunch program will have promotional days during the school year where at least one new nutritional alternative menu item and promote new menu items through flyers and menu highlights
    • School administration will encourage food products that meet the nutrition standards of the HHFKA when used as an incentive or reward for student accomplishments or for club activities
    • Food service staff, in consultation with the school administration, will coordinate obtaining student input on menu planning which may include taste testing of new nutritional food, satisfaction surveys, and other nutrition promotion activities
    • Food service staff will place the healthier food items in the service line where students are more likely to choose them
    • Parents will be provided the nutritional standards of the HHFKA and encouraged to pack lunches and snacks that meet the HHFKA nutritional standards
  2. Goals for Nutrition Education
    • School administration will ensure each student receives at least one presentation per school year that promotes good nutrition and nutrition education
    • The school district will post the nutritional guidelines of the HHFKA in the area of the school building where food and beverages are served
    • The school lunch menu will include information that encourages the selection of healthy food items
  3. Goals for Physical Activity
    • All students shall receive health/physical education under the supervision of a properly certified teaching staff member
    • School administration will ensure there is age appropriate equipment and supplies available during recess time
    • Students will be encouraged by school staff members supervising student recess time to participate in some type of physical activity
    • School administration will encourage classroom teachers to incorporate brief, physical activity breaks into the school day
    • School administration will coordinate special events that highlight physical activity