School Nutrition

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Overview

Most US children attend school for 6 hours a day and consume as much as half of their daily calories at school. The school nutrition environment and services is part of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

CDC recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. A healthy school nutrition environment provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating.

Figure 1. Components of the School Nutrition Environment and Services

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Comprehensive Framework for Addressing the School Nutrition Environment and Services

This CDC framework provides school nutrition professionals, school health professionals, administrators, teachers, and parents detailed information on the components of a school nutrition environment and how, together, they influence a students’ access to healthy foods and beverages at school.