Nutritious SEN$E
All it Takes is Nutritious SEN$E: Students Encouraging Nutritious Snacks Everyday!
Are you interested in providing and promoting healthful foods and beverages at your student store, but are not sure how to make this change so that business success will follow? If so, you have arrived at the right place. This toolkit will guide you through key concepts and considerations necessary to make these positive changes. In the end, your school store will not only continue to be profitable, it will contribute to student health and well being in your school.
Why make changes that encourage nutritious snacking?
- Healthy eating optimizes growth.
- Healthy eating helps prevent chronic disease.
- Healthy eating betters academic achievement.
- Some Montana schools have found out that students will choose healthful items if they are readily accessible and affordable at student stores.
What’s in this toolkit?
- Cover and Table of Contents
- Initial Nutrition SEN$E Worksheet
- First Things First: Food Safety in your student store
- What is considered healthy? Guidelines for foods and beverages
- Vendors, purchasing partners and service equipment
- Marketing: A MUST for financial success
- Advice from Montana schools on selling healthful foods in student stores
- Resources, websites and supporting organizations
- Evaluation form (we want your feedback on the usefulness of this kit)
Recess Before Lunch
The Montana Team Nutrition Program and School Nutrition Program staff can assist schools in the implementation of a Recess Before Lunch (RBL) policy. We hope the information found in the guide in helpful to you.
Why do it?
Reports from Montana schools indicated it helps:
- Improve student behavior on the playground, in the cafeteria and classroom.
- students waste less food and drink more milk. This leads to increased nutrient intake.
- Improve the cafeteria atmosphere.
- Children are more settled and ready to learn upon returning to the classroom.
Recess Before Lunch Guidance
What's in the Recess Before Lunch Guidebook?
Please note: the following sections comprise the entire guidebook. Print off just the sections that you need, or print all sections for the entire guidebook.
- Cover and Table of Contents
- General Information and Implementation Steps
- Assistance from Montana Schools - List of Montana schools with a RBL policy. Examples of Schedules from Montana schools
- Resources, Research and Supporting Information
- Montana Team Nutrition Pilot Project Report (2002-03)
- Educational and Marketing Materials
- Recess Before Lunch Brochure - Black & White
- Recess Before Lunch Brochure - Color
- Recess Before Lunch Guide for Success - Complete Guide
- Recess Before Lunch PowerPoint Presentation
- Recess Before Lunch Overhead Transparencies
- Recess Before Lunch Ready to Use Handout
- Example of Letter to Parents
- "Making Mealtime Pleasant" article
- Press Releases and recently published articles from newspapers and magazines
- Evaluation Form - We would appreciate your feedback on the usefulness of the kit.
Additional Resources
Montana Team Nutrition Program's Recess Before Lunch Research - 2002-2008
Challenges, Benefits and Essential Factors for Success in Implementing a Recess Before Lunch Schedule in Montana Elementary Schools: 2008 Principal's Survey Summary
Recess Before Lunch Podcast from Peaceful Playgrounds
http://blog.peacefulplaygrounds.com/2008/04/recess-before-lunch-schedule.html
Scheduling Recess Before Lunch: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges in Montana Schools article in Journal of Child Nutrition and Management, Volume 34, Issue 2, Fall 2010.
Acknowledgements:
Special
thanks to the Montana pilot school staff and
students for their cooperation and willingness
to share their experiences and advice on the
implementation of a Recess Before Lunch policy.
Pilot schools were Highland Park School in
Lewistown, Meadowlark School in Conrad, Valier
Elementary in Valier and Central Middle School
in Whitefish.
For More information Contact:
Montana Team Nutrition Program
Montana State University
PO Box 173360
Bozeman, MT 59717
406.994.5541
Molly Stenberg, RD
stenberg@montana.edu
Katie Bark, RD
kbark@mt.gov
or
School Nutrition Programs
Office of Public Instruction
PO Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620
406.444.2501
Chris Emerson, MS, RD
cemerson@mt.gov
