The Board of Education recognizes the important connection between a healthy diet and a student's ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards in school. The Board also recognizes the school's role, as part of the larger community, to promote family health, sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration. The educational mission is to improve the health of the entire community by teaching students and families ways to establish and maintain life-long healthy eating habits. The mission shall be accomplished through nutrition education, garden experiences, the food served in schools, and core academic content in the classroom.
Goals Ensure that no student in Berkeley is hungry.
Ensure that a healthy and nutritious breakfast, lunch and after school snack is available to every student at every school so that students are prepared to learn to their fullest potential. Ensure that all qualified children become eligible for free meals by frequently checking with Alameda County Social Services. Ensure maximum participation in the school meal program by developing a coordinated, comprehensive outreach and promotion plan for the school meal programs. Ensure that the nutritional value of the food served significantly improves upon USDA Dietary Guidelines by providing nutritious, fresh, tasty, locally grown food that reflects Berkeley's cultural diversity. Ensure that the food served shall be organic to the maximum extent possible, as defined by the California Certified Organic Farmers.