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NURTITION SERVICES

GOAL

To improve the health, nutritional well-being and academic performance of North
Carolina’s students through coordinated and comprehensive nutrition policies
that enhances the school classroom, cafeteria and community environment and support
lifelong healthful eating habits.

Nutrition Services is comprised of many components; the Child Nutrition Program,
Nutrition Education and programs that support health eating at school and home.
Program and services that provide screening, assessment, counseling and referral
for nutrition problems and the provision of modified meals for students with
special needs are also included.

Child Nutrition programs reflect the U.S.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other criteria to achieve nutrition integrity.
The school nutrition services
offer students a learning laboratory for classroom nutrition and health education,
and serve as a resource for linkages with nutrition-related community services.
Qualified child nutrition professionals provide these services. The Child Nutrition
program provides access to a variety of nutritious, culturally appropriate
foods that promote growth and development, pleasure in healthful eating, and
long-term health, the prevention of school day hunger and its consequent lack
of attention to learning tasks.

Nutrition education should empower students
to select and enjoy healthful food and be physical activity. Nutrition education
is included in the Healthful
Living Essential Standards for grades Pre-K – 12.

RESOURCES

Eat Smart, Move More NC
A statewide initiative that promotes increased opportunities for physical
activity and healthy eating through policy and environmental change.Increasing
public awareness of the need for such changes to support increased physical
activity and healthy eating opportunities is an integral aspect of the
initiative.The ultimate goal of the initiative is to promote healthy
behaviors that reduce
risks and prevent disease related to inactivity and unhealthy eating
behaviors.

Child Nutrition Programs
Provide nutritious school meals to promote learning readiness and the opportunity
to practice skills learned in classroom nutrition education. Programs
in schools include the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast
Program, the Special Milk Program, After School Snack Program and the
Summer
Food
Service Program. Programs are available to all children regardless
of ability to pay. Federal regulations also support the student with Special Dietary Needs. Meals are modified with a proper medical prescription without additional cost
to the parent of guardian. For more information, call Child Nutrition
Services with the NC Department of Public Instruction (919) 807.3506.

Team Nutrition
Approximately half of North Carolina’s schools are Team Nutrition schools.
Team Nutrition provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and families,
and technical assistance materials for Child Nutrition directors,
cafeteria managers and staff. State agency partners provide training and
technical
assistance to support these programs in local schools. Team Nutrition
supports the School Meals Initiative policy that school meals reflect
the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. For more information, call Child Nutrition
Services with the NC Department of Public Instruction (919) 807.3506.


Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET)
The North Carolina NET Program, through its local, state and federal partnerships, provides leadership in promoting
healthful eating habits for the state’s children. NET integrates
mealtime and learning experiences to help children make informed
food choices
as part of a healthy lifestyle. The NET Program offers, mini-grants, workshops and a newsletter. For more information, call the NET
Program with the NC Department of Health and Human Services at 919.715.8792.

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