Olentangy Local Schools earned the 2009 Stellar Award for Best Nutrition Practices from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Only 21 other districts and facilities received this award, which was created in 2003.
“Schools that provide high-quality meals to their students help prepare young minds and bodies for learning,” said Deborah Delisle, state superintendent of public instruction.
ODE selects winners based on their efforts to adopt the following USDA guidelines:
- the nutritional quality of meals served, including purchasing and preparation practices that reflect the National Dietary Guidelines;
- the extent to which a la carte and vending items contain healthy choices;
- access to continuing education and training opportunities for food service staff members;
- success in providing a pleasant eating environment for students; and
- nutritional education aimed at students, staff, parents and the community through marketing programs and activities; for example, using alternatives to candy when rewarding children for good behavior or academic performance.
Olentangy meets or exceeds these guidelines through a variety of programs. For example, the Snackwise rating system, developed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, rates a la carte offerings at all grade levels, educating students and encouraging them to make healthy choices. The Enhanced Food-Based Menu Planning Approach focuses on maintaining nutritional guidelines while providing calories from low-fat foods rather than from high-fat items. All of the district’s eligible cafeterias have earned the Clean Restaurant Award from the Delaware General Health District. Nutrition and physical fitness lessons are also incorporated into many Olentangy classes including health, physical education and family and consumer science.