COD E R E D

Childhood ConditionsSchool-based Programmatic Recommendations■ During each school day the school food service programshall offer breakfast and lunch as well as snacks forstudents in organized after-school education or enrichmentprograms. Each school shall encourage all students toparticipate in these meal opportunities. In particular, theschool shall make efforts to ensure that families are awareof need-based programs for free or reduced-price mealsand those eligible families are encouraged to apply. Theprogram shall maintain the confidentiality of students andfamilies applying for or receiving free or reduced-pricedmeals.Evidence-based RecommendationsPupil/student health education■ Educate all children about the importance of healthyeating and the role of school and community environmentsin influencing their eating.■ Provide instruction in nutrition-related skills, including butnot limited to planning a healthy meal, understanding andusing food labels, and critically evaluating nutritioninformation, misinformation, and commercial foodadvertising.■ Nutrition education should be incorporated into thecurriculum of science, math and health classes, and onesemester of nutrition education should be mandatory in highschool.School personnel education■ Educate school administrators, teachers, and PTAmembers on the positive relationship between nutrition andacademic performance.■ Staff responsible for nutrition education shall beadequately prepared and regularly participate inprofessional development activities to effectively deliver thenutrition education program as planned. Preparation andprofessional development activities shall provide basicknowledge of nutrition, combined with skill practice inprogram-specific activities and instructional techniques andstrategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.Asthma (n=15)Average school-basedpolicies = 13 (range 4-35)School health services■ Have health clinic personnel plan individualized strategiesto address nutrition.■ Provide services to ensure that students and staff withnutrition-related health problems are referred to appropriateservices for counseling or medical treatment.Healthy school environment■ Set and monitor standards for maintenance, ventilation,humidity and indoor air quality, mold, dust, pest and insectcontrol in schools, pre-school and daycare facilities.■ Enforce smoking bans in school properties at all times, inany form of school transportation, and at school-sponsoredevents on and off school property. Prohibit tobaccoadvertising in schools property or publications.■ Keep the classrooms free of allergens, irritants and triggersubstances.■ Enable optimal functioning of children with asthma inschool and child-care settings.■ Limit vehicles near schools and separate schools fromroadways.■ Adopt asthma managementeducation for affected children andsupport staffE-45