Wellness Policy

Wellness Policy Guidance

Wellness Policy Resources

Federal Rule

Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Final Rule Summary

New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC)

6.12.5 Competitive Food Sales Rule

6.12.6 School District Wellness Policy

6.12.2.9 Students Right to Self-Administer Certain Medications

6.29.1 Primary and Secondary Standards for Excellence

Resources

Local School Wellness Policy Refresh

Student Health Advisory Committee

School Wellness Committees That Work

SHAC Guides/Resources
- Creating a Sustainable Culture of Learning & Health at the District Level (RMC Health)
- School Health Advisory Council Guidebook (LA Department of Education)
Example By-Laws
Prioritization Templates and Guides
- Step-by-Step Guide to Establishing Priorities (Action for Healthy Kids)
- Prioritization Template (Action for Healthy Kids)
- Action Planning Template (Action for Healthy Kids)
Guide to Hosting Effective Meetings (Action for Healthy Kids)
Other Resources
- State Policy Database (National Association of State Boards of Education)

Policy Development

Action for Healthy Kids Through awareness-building and strategic outreach, we bring together parents and educators and equip them with the tools and resources they need to support happier, healthier kids.

Wellness Policy Development Tool

Nutrition

Make Every Bite Count: USDA, HHS Release Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025

(Washington, D.C., December 29, 2020) – Nutrition in America took a major step forward today with the publication of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. Jointly published by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) every five years, the guidelines provide science-based recommendations designed to foster healthy dietary patterns for Americans of all ages – from birth through older adults. Importantly, this edition expands the guidance, for the first time including recommended healthy dietary patterns for infants and toddlers.
“At USDA and HHS, we work to serve the American people – to help every American thrive and live healthier lives through access to healthy foods and providing nutrition recommendations,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “With the release of the dietary guidelines, we have taken the very important step to provide nutrition guidance that can help all Americans lead healthier lives by making every bite count.”
Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the nation’s trusted resource for evidence-based nutrition guidance. The guidelines are designed for use by healthcare professionals and policy makers for outreach to the general public and provide the nutritional foundation for federal nutrition programs. The dietary guidelines should not be considered clinical guidelines for the treatment of disease.

MyPlate is here to help you and your family put the Dietary Guidelines into action with new digital tools and resources available starting today! Start Simple with MyPlate offers free, personalized resources based on your eating needs and habits.

Follow these simple steps and get started with these MyPlate resources:

Find your starting point: Take the quick MyPlate Quiz to see how your eating habits stack up against the MyPlate recommendations. Based on your answers you’ll receive tailored resources and a personal quiz results code to sync with the Start Simple with MyPlate app.
Set simple goals based on your personal needs:Use the Start Simple with MyPlate app to help you set daily meal- and snack-based goals to help you eat healthier. Sync your results from the MyPlate Quiz for a personalized experience. Join challenges, see progress, and earn badges to celebrate successes.
Learn how much you should eat: To find out what and how much to eat from each of the food groups, get your own personalized MyPlate Plan.
Put your plan into action: Discover recipes on MyPlate Kitchen. Check out hundreds of healthy, budget-friendly recipes that provide detailed nutrition and food group information to help you choose recipes that fit your needs.
Save money and eat healthy: Use Healthy Eating on a Budget to help you save money at the store by making a shopping plan, shopping smart, and preparing healthy meals to stretch food dollars.
Keep up the good work! One big change is that we’ve officially changed our website from ChooseMyPlate.gov to MyPlate.gov. Explore MyPlate’s new website with streamlined information for you to find tips, tools, and recipes that will fit your healthy eating needs.

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite. Small changes matter. Start Simple with MyPlate.

Tools for Schools: Focusing on Smart Snacks USDA

Smarter Lunchroom Techniques Scorecard

Washington Smarter Lunchrooms Toolkit

Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights Guidance Memorandum 6.30.17

CDC Access to Drinking Water, Water Access in Schools Microlearning Modules These short video training modules guide schools on steps to take to help students drink more water during the day. School staff will learn what can be done to ensure water is available, safe, and promoted as an ideal beverage choice.

Fundraising

Health Eating Research: School Fundraisers

Physical Activity

Springboard to Active Schools Leverage. Catalyze. Advance. When it comes to promoting physical education and physical activity in schools, we recognize that some of you may feel like your state is bouncing in place, while others have been doing flips and tricks for years. No matter where you are, the Springboard to Active Schools Team aims to launch you higher and further in your pursuit of active schools.

Playworks helps kids to stay active and build valuable life skills through play.

Staff Wellness Resources

Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Staff Well-Being Guidance for making staff wellness a priority through planning, implementing and evaluating your program.

Thriving Schools-Kaiser Permanente Healthy schools need healthy school employees to thrive. This site provides webinars, and resources for healthy eating, physical activity, social and emotional well-being and labor management collaboration.

SHAPE America School-Based Employee Wellness

CDC School Employee Wellness Fostering the physical and mental health of school employees also helps to support students’ health and academic success. Every school employee, no matter the role they play, contributes to a school’s mission. School staff can give their best when they feel their best. School employee wellness programs can help.

Schools can provide an employee wellness program for staff that includes healthy eating and physical activity services. When staff model these healthy behaviors, they can reinforce them with students.

Additionally, supporting school employee wellness programs can

staff retention and productivity.
employee absenteeism.
employee health care costs.

If you have questions please contact:

Sharona Secatero Sharona.Secatero2@ped.nm.gov