School Health Guidelines
to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

A: Strategies include:

• Coordinate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices through a school health council and school health coordinator.
• Assess healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices.
• Use a systematic approach to develop, implement, and monitor healthy eating and physical activity policies.
• Evaluate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices.

A: Coordinating individuals and groups to work together maximizes opportunities for students by:

• Facilitating better communication
• Reducing duplication of policies and practices
• Increasing options for obtaining additional resources to support healthy eating and physical activity
• Increasing efficiency through organized efforts

A: School health councils and school health teams should include a mix of multiple representatives, such as health and physical education teachers, nutrition services staff, students, families, school administrators, school nurses, and other community members.

A: CDC’s School Health Index or the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s School Health Assessment Tool are self-assessment and planning guides that schools may use to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their health and safety policies and practices. Learn more in the Training Tools for Healthy Schools School Health Index course.

A: Yes, school districts that participate in federally supported school meal programs are required to develop, implement, and monitor a local wellness policy with goals focused on nutrition and physical activity. Local wellness policies can help school districts require evidence-based policies and practices to be implemented in schools across the district.