Healthy Weight: Information for Schools

Schools can help children eat smart and move more! Schools can make sure that healthy eating options are offered to children. They can also remove sugar-sweetened beverages from the cafeterias and restrict unhealthy foods at any events in the schools. In addition, making physical activity a priority during the school day, along with ample time for recess, will help combat childhood obesity and overweight.

What schools should do so Kids Eat Healthy

Buy Local

Fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly those locally grown, can improve the taste and nutritional quality of school meals. The Rhode Island Farm to School Project at Farm Fresh RI helps school districts source locally. Menu planners may contact them for assistance in finding local produce.

Serve Healthy Meals

The Rhode Island Nutrition Requirements sets standards to make food in the cafeteria healthier, including the minimum servings of fruits, vegetables and cooked beans or peas on the menu and maximum amount of salt in the food served. Additionally, students must have the option of low-fat milk in the cafeteria. (more)

Use more whole grains

Whole grains have more fiber, more nutrients, can help prevent chronic disease, and help maintain a healty weight. The Rhode Island Nutrition Requirements requires schools to serve at least 90% whole grain products. To do this school menu planners can use a mix of 100% whole grain products and those that are labeled as "whole grain" which may actually contain as little as 51% whole grains. The Approved whole grain list helps menu planners pick from the products which have been reviewed and approved by the Department of Health.

Additional product information and distributor contacts, (Full screen table)

Supply only Healthy Beverages & Snacks in School

The Healthier Beverages and Snacks Law requires schools only sell food and beverages that have been reviewed and approved for nutritional content (see list below). This includes items sold in vending machines, the cafeteria, the school store or anywhere on school property. The Rhode Island Nutrition Guidelines for School Vending and Ala Cart Foods states product criteria. The Initiative for Healthy Weight is available for help with the law or requirements.

Approved Product List for Vending Machines and A La Carte Foods

Additional product information and distributor contacts, (Full screen table)

What Schools should do so Kids are Active

• Make sure Physical Education staff implement high quality physical education in line with the Rhode Island Physical Education Frameworks. RIAHPERD (RI Association for Health, Physical Education and Dance) offers training and professional development opportunities.
• Implement a program such as Spark PE, which has been shown to improve the quality of active time during PE class.

Implement Policies & Programs that encourage kids to bike and walk to school

• Implement the Safe Routes to School tool kit;
• Visit Rhode Island Safe Routes to School program for announcements and updates;
• Contact us for support and technical assistance on safe, active commuting to your school.