Team Nutrition

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness encourages and supports schools and school districts that utilize two USDA initiatives described below.

Team Nutrition is an initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service for federal Child Nutrition Programs. Schools involved in the initiative are required to:

• Demonstrate a commitment to help students meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Provide nutrition education for children and parents, and
• Build school and community support around a healthy school environment.

Schools may join Team Nutrition at no cost. Participation provides schools with e-mails containing nutrition information, a free resource kit, and technical assistance with school team efforts. For more information, please visit USDA's Web site.

Join the Team

HealthierUS School Challenge

Go for the gold with the HealthierUS School Challenge Award! Elementary schools are eligible to apply for this award established to recognize schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. Schools can be certified as either Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold Distinction Schools.

As of July 2010 the following basic criteria must be met:

• be an elementary, middle or high school
• be enrolled as a Team Nutrition School
• offer reimbursable lunches that meet USDA nutrition standards and demonstrate healthy menu practices and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• provide nutrition education to students
• provide students the opportunity for physical activity
• maintain an Average Daily Participation of school enrollment for reimbursable lunches of:
  • Elementary Schools and Middle Schools
    • Bronze – not applicable
    • Silver – 60%
    • Gold/Gold Award of Distinction – 70%
  • High Schools
    • Bronze – not applicable
    • Silver – 45%
    • Gold/Gold Award of Distinction – 65%
• adhere to guidelines established by FNS for foods served or sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program.
• School wellness policies must support a wellness environment

To access the full detailed chart of the criteria for the HealtherUS School Challenge, visit Tips for Meeting the Challenge  

What's New?

• USDA Revised Healthier US School Challenge Criteria – Effective July 1, 2012
• HUSSC Comparison Chart for Current and Revised July 2012 requirements 
• HUSSC 2012 Criteria for Excellence 
• Final Rule Nutrition Standards 

HealthierUS School Challenge Online Application

To access the HUSSC interactive online application forms, please visit http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/HUSSC/.

HealthierUS School Challenge Winners

Florida HealthierUS School Challenge Award Winners

Awards

Schools recieve national recognition and will recieve an award  plaque signed by the Secreteray of Agriculture and a banner from USDA to display in the school.  Monetary awards are also recieved based on each level:

• $2000 Gold Award of Distinction
• $1500 Gold
• $1000 Silver
• $500 Bronze

Webinar Resources

• Focus on Documentation
• PowerPoint
• Rich Text Format  
• Supplemental Materials
  • 1 Week Menu 
  • Review Food Production Records Template 
• Focus on Grains
• PowerPoint
• Rich Text Format  
• Supplement Materials
  • Attachment A - List of Common Grains 
  • Attachment B - Multiple Whole Grain Foods 
  • Exhibit A - Grains and Breads 

Resources

The following resources are available to assist schools in the process:

• A La Carte and Snack Foods Determined to Meet the HUSSC Competitive Food Criteria  
• Apps for Healthy Kids
• Food Buying Guide Calculator for Child Nutrition Programs
• HealthierUS School Challenge website
• Team Nutrition Newsletters
• Whole Grains
• 2010 Dietary Guidelines
• MyPlate Materials
• Blast Off Nutrition Game (Interactive)

USDA Food Facts

• USDA Foods Toolkit - New Resources Added!
• DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Fact Sheet  
• School Programs Commodity Updates Newsletter
• USDA Foods Available List for Schools and Institutions  
• Federal and State Contacts
• Commodity Processing Fact Sheet  
• Links to Other Resources
• Recipes

Contact

Food, Nutrition and Wellness
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 120
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Direct Line: 850-617-7400
Toll Free: (800) 504-6609