what the act means for…
students:
- Free breakfast served at a time when students can access the most important meal of the day
- Healthier lunches with more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Elimination of the reduced-price copayment for lunch — this means lunch is free for students who previously had to pay 20 cents at DCPS and 40 cents at most public charter schools
- Local produce fresh produce from area farms
- Higher nutrition standards for food sold in the cafeteria, school stores, and vending machines to help students eat healthy throughout the day
- More opportunities for physical activity to help students develop lifelong habits for health
- Increased health education to help students learn how to stay safe and healthy
- Greener school environments more opportunities for school gardens, recycling, energy-reduction improvements, and enhanced lead water and paint testing
families:
- Assurance that children will be fueled with healthy food and ready to learn
- Readily-accessible information on school nutrition
- Promotion of healthy eating and active living through increased health education and physical activity
- Public reporting requirements so families will know about school environmental testing results and health program offerings
schools:
- New local funding in addition to federal reimbursements for school meals
- Opportunities to strengthen physical activity
- Promotion of health education
- Local funding for school gardens
- New recycling, energy-reduction, lead water and paint testing, and other environmental programs
Washington, DC:
- A chance to lead the nation in implementing comprehensive school wellness legislation.
- More children with consistent access to nutritious meals. Facts: One out of 8 D.C. families struggles with hunger. And 37.4% of households with children reported that in 2009-2010 they were unable to afford enough food in the last year.
- More children adopting healthy lifestyles that help prevent obesity Fact: 43% of all D.C. school-age children are obese or overweight.
- More children eating enough fruits and vegetables each day. Fact: 81% of D.C. children do not get the USDA-recommended 5 fruits and vegetables a day.
- More children being physically active. Fact: Only about 30% of District children do the CDC-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
- More children learning wellness and preventative health practices.