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Team Nutrition and HealthierUS School Challenge Award

The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Management encourages and supports schools and school districts that utilize two USDA initiatives described below.

Team Nutrition

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 website.

HealthierUS School Challenge

Go for the gold with the HealthierUS School Challenge Award! Only Elementary schools are eligible to apply for this award established to recognize schools that create a healthier nutrition environment for students. Schools can be certified for either a bronze, silver, or gold award.

Schools must meet a basic set of criteria:

  • Be an elementary school enrolled as a Team Nutrition school
  • Offer reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu practices and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and that meet USDA nutrition standards
  • Provide nutrition education and physical activity opportunities for students
  • Maintain an Average Daily Participation for lunch of 70 percent or more for the Gold or Silver Award or 62 percent for the Bronze Award, and
  • Adhere to guidelines established by FNS for foods served or sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program.

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