At a glance
- Most US children attend school for at least 6 hours a day and consume as many as half of their daily calories at school.
- School policies and practices can support students in making healthy choices and help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.
Overview
Most US children attend school for at least 6 hours a day and consume as many as half of their daily calories at school. The school nutrition environment and services are part of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.
A healthy school nutrition environment makes it easier for students to make healthy choices by giving them access to:
- nutritious and appealing foods and beverages,
- consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition,
- and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating.
Why it matters
Good nutrition in childhood and adolescence builds the foundation for healthy growth, development, and lifelong wellbeing. Proper nutrition:
- Fuels physical growth and brain development, supporting learning, attention, and classroom performance.
- Reduces risk of short- and long-term health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
- Improves school attendance, behavior, and the ability to concentrate, helping children get more from their education.
- Provides essential vitamins, minerals, and energy in settings like school meals, where children consume a large share of their daily calories.
- Shapes eating habits early in life, increasing the likelihood of healthier behaviors that continue into adulthood.
Strategies
CDC's Comprehensive Framework for Addressing the School Nutrition Environment and Services describes opportunities to support students in making healthy choices while at school.
Staff role modeling
Teachers, school staff, out-of-school time program leaders, and administrators can also practice healthy eating—consuming healthy foods and beverages. In addition, they can make efforts to be physically active and get involved in the school's employee wellness program. This modeling reinforces healthy behavior with students and supports consistent school messages about the importance of good nutrition.
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