The School Board of Highlands County (SBHC) is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Therefore, it is the policy of the School Board of Highlands County that:

• The school district will make every effort to engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interesting community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.

• All students in grades K-12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.

• Food and beverages sold or served at school will meet the minimum nutritional requirements set forth by federal and state guidelines.

• Qualified child nutrition professionals will make every effort to provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; and attempt to accommodate the diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.

• To the maximum extent practicable, all schools in our district will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program [including after-school snacks], and the Summer Food Service Program.)

• The SBHC will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services.