- • Fundraising during and outside school hours will sell only non-food items or foods and beverages that meet or exceed the Smart Snacks nutrition standards.

### Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs. Students and staff will receive consistent nutrition messages throughout schools, classrooms, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. Nutrition promotion also includes marketing and advertising nutritious foods and beverages to students and is most effective when implemented consistently through a comprehensive and multi-channel approach by school staff, teachers, parents, students and the community. Instruction for marketing nutritious foods and healthy lifestyle will, as resources allow, be incorporated into DECA courses.

The district will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus, as well as encourage participation in school meal programs. This promotion will occur through:

- • Implementation of at least ten or more evidence-based healthy food promotion techniques through the school meal programs using Smarter Lunchroom techniques.
- • Ensuring 100% of foods and beverages promoted to students meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. Additional promotion techniques that the district and individual schools may use are available at http://www.foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org/.

### Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

All school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals. These school nutrition personnel will refer to USDA’s Professional Standards for School Nutrition Standards website to search for training that meets their learning needs. Family and Community Involvement In order to promote family and community involvement in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education in schools, the school principal is responsible for ensuring:

- • Nutrition education materials and breakfast and lunch menus are made available to parents;
- • Parents are encouraged to promote their child’s participation in the school meals program. If their children do not participate in the school meals program, parents should provide their children with healthy snacks/meals;
- • Families are invited to attend exhibitions of student nutrition projects or health fairs;
- • Nutrition education curriculum includes homework that students can do with their families (e.g., reading and interpreting food labels, reading nutrition-related newsletters, preparing healthy recipes, etc.);
- • School staff are encouraged to cooperate with other agencies and community groups to provide opportunities for student projects related to nutrition, as appropriate; and
- • School staff consider the various cultural preferences in development of nutrition education programs and food options.

### Nutrition Education

The district’s K-12 nutrition education curriculum will align with the Washington State Health and Physical Education K-12 Learning Standards and will be designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote healthy behavior.

The district’s nutrition education K-12 curriculum should include, but not be limited to, the following concepts:

- • Age-appropriate, developmentally-appropriate, and culturally relevant nutritional knowledge, including:
- • The relationship of nutrition and food nutrients to physical performance and body composition;
- • The benefits of healthy eating;
- • Essential nutrients;