Health and WellnessLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

Child nutrition programs support healthy eating and physical activity for children. The resources listed below include guides, curricula, fact sheets and recognition programs that can help program sponsors promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Healthier US School Challenge

Obesity is a growing concern for school children in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) believes that schools should be taking a leadership role in helping students learn to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices. Many schools have already made changes to their school nutrition environments, improved the quality of the foods served, and now provide students with more nutritious, healthy choices. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) wants to encourage schools to achieve such results, and has established the Healthier US School Challenge to encourage schools to go further and to recognize those who chose to do so. The Whole Grains Resource is available to interested schools. For more information on the HealthierUS School Challenge criteria, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/HealthierUS/index.html to access the application forms. Send completed applications to the Minnesota Department of Education, Food and Nutrition Service.

Healthy Foods for Kids: Guidelines to Good Nutrition at School

Guidelines to make it easier for schools to improve the nutritional quality of non-regulated foods and beverages offered to students while they are on campus. The second edition of the guidelines is now available for download at: http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/state_profile.php?state=MN  

Local Wellness Policy Development Resources

The Local Wellness Policy - A Guide For Development includes the Wellness Policy Law, a description of the policy components, suggested steps for planning, frequently asked questions and web resources.  The Local Wellness Policy Development Tool includes worksheets to guide you through developing each component of the wellness policy. Both documents are available below.

Note: By clicking on the links on this page you will leave the MDE site. Please read the copyright notice at the bottom of the page for our disclaimer regarding these sites.

From Policy To Action - Steps To Implementing Your Local Wellness Policy  1Mb (1/10/08)
     A step-by-step planning guide to Local Wellness Policy implementation and measurement of progress.
Local Wellness Policy - Analyzing Policy Goals Worksheet and Five Implementation Planning Worksheets  79Kb (1/10/08)  107Kb (1/10/08)
     Wellness Policy Implementation Worksheets that can be modified. Worksheets include Analyzing Your Policy Goals, Nutrition Education, Physical Activity, Other School-Based Activities, Nutrition Guidelines for Foods Available During the School Day, and Guidelines for School Meals.
Local Wellness Policy - Communication Planning Worksheet (with samples)  78Kb (1/10/08)  39Kb (1/10/08)
     Wellness Policy Communication Planning Worksheet with sample news article and letter to parents that can be modified.
Local Wellness Policy - Development Tool  123Kb (9/22/05)  164Kb (9/22/05)
     The Development Tool includes worksheets to guide you through developing each component of the wellness policy.
Local Wellness Policy - Guide for Development  338Kb (7/20/07)  533Kb (7/20/07)
     This guide includes the Wellness Policy Law, a description of the policy components, suggested steps for planning, frequently asked questions and web resources.
Local Wellness Policy - Steps to Measuring Change Worksheet and Five Measurement Planning Worksheets  86Kb (1/10/08)  60Kb (1/10/08)
     Wellness Policy Measurement Worksheets that can be modified. Worksheets include Steps to Measuring Change, Nutrition Education, Physical Activity, Other School-Based Activities, Nutrition Guidelines for Foods Available During the School Day, and Guidelines for School Meals.
Local Wellness Policy Implementation Overview  521Kb (1/15/08)  459Kb (1/15/08)
     An overview on Wellness Policy Implementation using PowerPoint with notes that can be modified for use with committees and parent groups.
USDA Dietary Guidelines - Controlling Food Costs  539Kb (6/2/08)
     A fact sheet on controlling food costs from the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
USDA Dietary Guidelines - Fruits  606Kb (6/2/08)
     A one page guide on fruits from the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
USDA Dietary Guidelines - Grains  633Kb (6/2/08)
     A one page guide on grains from the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
USDA Dietary Guidelines - Milk  734Kb (6/2/08)
     A one page guide on milk and dairy products from the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
USDA Dietary Guidelines - Trans Fat  682Kb (6/2/08)
     A fact sheet on trans fat from the USDA Dietary Guidelines.