Mississippi Schools have new standards that can help children become healthier and improve academically so they have a chance to be successful in life!

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS for GRADES K - 8

 

• 150 minutes per week of instruction through a combination of physical education, physical activity, and activity based instruction

• Minimum of 45 minutes per week of health education (part of the 150 minutes above)

• Minimum of 50 minutes in physical education is required per week (recess counts.)

• Extracurricular activities, like basketball, baseball, archery, cheerleading, softball, football Marching Band Show Choir, and ROTC can be counted

 

NUTRITION STANDARDS for GRADES K - 8

 

Healthy food and beverage choices for students: 

• One fresh fruit or vegetable choice offered each day (minimum)
• Three different fruits and five different vegetables offered weekly
• Milk with no more than 2% fat and flavored nonfat, low-fat, or reduced-fat milk with 160 calories or less per 8-ounce serving
• 100% fruit and vegetable juice with no added sugar

 

Healthy food preparation:

• Maximum of 30% calories from fat, less than 10% calories from saturated fat allowed
• Limit fried foods whenever possible and develop a long range plan for reducing and/or eliminating fried products in lunch and breakfast menus

 

Marketing healthy food choices:

• Educate students, families and the community with things like Tasting Parties, Serving Line Sampling and other promotions
• Use marketing, pricing and nutrition education strategies to encourage healthy extra sale selections

 

Food products:

• Whole grain products included in daily and weekly lunch and breakfast
• Limit the number of extra sale items that can be purchased with a reimbursable meal.
• Extra items in individual packages cannot exceed 200 calories.
• Extra items sold cannot exceed the menu portion serving size.

For a complete review of the fall 2008 State standards for physical education and nutrition in Mississippi Schools, click here:   http://www.healthyschoolsms.org  

GOOD NUTRITION & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT HOME ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT 

        Help your child be more active during    non-school hours.

 

·         Encourage them to walk, bike or play outside in safe areas.

 

·         Provide a jump rope, hula hoop or ball to encourage exercise that is fun.

 

·         Limit time spent watching TV or playing computer/video games.

                   Help your child eat healthier foods at home.    

·         Serve more fruits and vegetables and cut down on fat and sugar in foods you serve at home. 

·         Bake meats instead of frying. 

·         Serve whole grain cereals and breads. 

·         Avoid fast foods and high calorie, low nutrition snacks!