Nutrition Education - School Nutrition - CA Education

Section § 8990

This law encourages schools to teach nutrition in a fun and engaging way by highlighting the positive aspects of healthy eating. Activities should involve students, be age-appropriate, and involve families in the learning process. Teachers should be well-prepared with a solid understanding of nutrition and take part in ongoing professional training to effectively teach nutrition and promote healthy eating habits.

The Legislature encourages nutritional education instructional activities that comply with all of the following:

(a) They emphasize the appealing aspects of healthy eating.

(b) They are participatory, developmentally appropriate, and enjoyable.

(d) They encourage teachers responsible for nutrition education, who have received nutrition instruction during their credentialing program, to be adequately prepared and regularly participate in professional development activities to effectively deliver the nutrition education program as planned. Preparation and professional development activities should provide basic knowledge of nutrition, combined with skill practice in program-specific activities and instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.

nutritional education healthy eating family involvement teacher preparation professional development nutrition instruction healthy habits instructional techniques program-specific activities developmentally appropriate teachers' credentialing engaging education participatory learning skill practice nutrition knowledge

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative July 1, 2004, pursuant to Section 8997.)

Section § 8993

This law section encourages school staff to educate themselves about the downsides of using food as rewards or punishments. It promotes integrating nutrition education into various subjects and working closely with the school’s food program. The staff is also urged to partner with community groups for nutrition-related volunteer opportunities, maintain consistent messaging in nutrition education with outside groups, share information about nutrition assistance programs, and model healthy eating habits.

The Legislature encourages school instructional staff to do the following:

(a) Be informed about the negative consequences of using food as a reward and of withholding food from pupils as punishment.

(b) The need to closely coordinate with the food service program and other components of the school health program in order to integrate nutrition concepts into the instruction of other subject areas.

(c) Cooperate with other agencies and community groups to provide opportunities for pupil volunteer work related to nutrition, such as assisting with food recovery efforts and preparing nutritious meals for house-bound people.

(d) Collaborate with agencies and groups conducting nutrition education in the community to send consistent messages to pupils and their families. Guest speakers invited to address pupils shall receive appropriate orientation to the relevant policies of the district.

(e) Disseminate information to parents, guardians, pupils, and staff about community programs that offer nutrition assistance to families.

(f) Model healthy eating behaviors.

nutrition education food as reward withholding food punishment school health program nutrition concepts integration community nutrition education pupil volunteer work food recovery efforts nutritious meals consistent messages guest speakers community programs nutrition assistance healthy eating behaviors nutrition-related activities

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative July 1, 2004, pursuant to Section 8997.)

Section § 8995

This law suggests that schools should offer wellness programs focused on teaching students about healthy eating and staying active. It also encourages schools to make sure children have access to the nutrition, health, and social services they need, either at school or through local community agencies.

The Legislature encourages school administrations to do the following:

(a) Offer wellness programs that include personalized instruction about healthy eating and physical activity.

(b) Ensure that the nutrition services, health services, and social services children need in order to learn are provided at the schoolsite or in cooperation with other community agencies.

wellness programs healthy eating physical activity school nutrition services health services for students social services personalized instruction community agencies child health student wellness education and health schoolsite services

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative July 1, 2004, pursuant to Section 8997.)

Section § 8996

This section explains two important terms. First, 'Dietary Guidelines for Americans' refer to the federal government's advice on healthy eating to meet nutrient needs and prevent disease. Second, 'Nutrition education' is about teaching students through a planned program to understand and keep healthy eating habits throughout their lives.

As used in this article the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” means the current set of recommendations of the federal government that are designed to help people choose diets that will meet nutrient requirements, promote health, support active lives, and reduce chronic disease risks.

(b) “Nutrition education” means a planned sequential instructional program that provides knowledge and teaches skills to help pupils adopt and maintain lifelong, healthy eating patterns.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans federal recommendations nutrient requirements promote health reduce chronic disease nutrition education instructional program lifelong eating habits healthy eating patterns pupil education planned sequential program skills development active lives support

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative July 1, 2004, pursuant to Section 8997.)

Section § 8997

This section is saying that the rules or provisions outlined in this chapter are set to start being in effect on July 1, 2004.

This chapter shall become operative on July 1, 2004.

operative date July 1 2004 chapter enforcement effective date implementation start beginning of operations start date for rules initiation of provisions activation date chapter commencement rules starting statute activation law effective timing regulation start chapter enactment

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003. Note: This section prescribes a delayed operative date (July 1, 2004) for Chapter 10, commencing with Section 8990.)