The nutrition component supports the availability of healthy food which is the primary building block for each child's physical growth, brain development, and ability to resist disease.
Food also affects a child's emotions, sense of well-being and ability to learn.
Promote the role of nutrition in academic performance and quality of life, and ensure the adoption of school policies which provide adequate nutrition opportunities. Team Nutrition Ninety-eight schools in 40 school districts are participating in Team Nutrition, an initiative in which schools become part of a network of public and private partnerships that promote food choices for a healthy diet through media, schools, families and the community. Team Nutrition supports the new policy updating school meals nutrition standards to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Training of school staff was conducted by the Department of Health Nutrition Education and Training program and State Department of Education Nutrition Unit. The program is jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institutes in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a nonprofit consumer education foundation representing the fruit and vegetable industry.