The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has
established the HealthierUS Schools Challenge to encourage schools to take a
leadership role in helping students learn to make healthy eating and active
lifestyle choices.
HealthierUS Schools can be certified as Bronze, Silver, Gold or
Gold of Distinction Schools, according to standards established by FNS. To be
certified, a school must:
- be enrolled as a Team Nutrition School;
-
offer reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu planning practices
and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and that meet USDA
nutrition standards;
-
provide nutrition education to students;
- provide students with physical education and 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/sold in schools
outside the National School Lunch Program.
FNS will award schools that successfully meet the Challenge with
an appropriate recognition plaque. In addition, the recognized schools will be
listed on the Team Nutrition website, may be chosen to be a part of special FNS
media events and may receive other awards that promote and support the
principles of the Challenge.
For additional information on the HealthierUS School Challenge,
including instructions and criteria, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/HealthierUS/index.html.
To contact the Food and Nutrition Division's Nutrition
Coordinator call (877) TEX-MEAL or write squaremeals@texasagriculture.gov.