Welcome to the
Jefferson County Parents Health and Nutrition Website!

The all-new Health and Nutrition section of Jeffco PTA is maintained by

Jeffco Parents Focus on School Nutrition, which was founded by parents of students in the Jefferson County Public Schools district who are concerned about the nutritional well-being of all children.  For more information or if you'd like to get involved, please email us at ParentsFocusOnNutrition@jeffcopta.org.  Thank you for your visit!

                                  News and Events                                  

Jeffco will be the first district in Colorado to pilot on-line applications for free and reduced price meals which should speed up the approval process for parents considerably.

Upcoming changes in the lunch program for next year.

Coordinated School Health in YOUR School! If your school would be interested in the "Healthy Schools Grant" in 2010-2011, click here to submit a short interest form: http://htlhyschools.wufoo.com/forms/healthy-schools-grant/ or contact Amy Dillon, Jeffco Healthy Schools Coordinator at 303-982-6507 or adillon@jeffco.k12.co.us for more information.

JPS Times are Changing Powerpoint Now Available - The JPS Executive Director of Food and Nutrition, Linda Stoll, presented JPS Food Service changes for 2009-2010 that further promote better nutrition at this year's Jeffco PTA Fall Leadership Conference.

Share Your Schools Great Health and Nutrition Ideas - Please Join Jeffco Parents Focus on School Nutrition public forum to post your great ideas and topical feedback.

JPS School Lunch - download the menu, get prices, visit SchoolPay, and review policies

Chef Paul Schutt - learn about the New Jeffco Food Services Team Executive Chef/Trainer

Senate Bill 08-123 - Child Nutrition School Lunch Protection Program provides free lunch to children in kindergarten through second grade who are currently eligible only for reduced price lunch under the federal "National School Lunch Act". Senate Bill 09-033 also makes program moneys available to children enrolled in state-subsidized preschool programs offered in public schools.  Here is more info on the JPS free lunch program.

Senate Bill 09-226 - Food Allergy Management requires state rules for management of food allergies and anaphylaxis among students enrolled in the public schools of the state. Please see JPS's related policy document Food Allergy and Sensitivity Policy.

JPS Food Service 2009-2010 - Changes in the Cafeteria

For 2009-2010, there will be a few additions and subtractions on the school lunch menu. Students will have choices such as oven roasted chicken, baked chips, whole wheat bread and at eight local high schools, a burrito bar. Junk food such as candy, doughnuts and cinnamon rolls are being eliminated, while other items like flavored milk and sugary cereals are being replaced with more nutritious options.

The district has partnered with local markets to offer 100 percent natural food. To help the district move away from processed foods, cafeteria workers will start preparing more items from scratch. Paul Schutt, an executive chef and trainer, has been hired to help modify recipes, train employees to use new equipment and locate local food products to incorporate in the lunch line.

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Senate Bill 08-129 - Beverage Rules requires that beverages must meet minimum nutritional beverage standards, as established by a national organization that publishes nutritional standards for beverages, and prohibits the sale of beverages in schools that do not. The adopted policies apply to beverage sales in school cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and fundraising activities conducted on school campuses. The policies also affect school district contracts entered into or renewed after July 1, 2009.

Jeffco Food Services Beverage Policy for 2009-2010 - In response, Jeffco schools will now be offering healthier beverage choices to include bottled water, fat-free or low-fat milk and 100 percent juice at elementary and middle schools. High schools will also offer low-calorie beverages such as unsweetened teas, low-calorie sports drinks, fitness waters and flavored waters. No diet soda will be sold.

Effect on PTA Events - Per this bill, we can no longer sell soda, lemonade, non
juice “juice boxes”, etc at PTA events. We are expected to follow the guidelines below:

Effective July 1, 2009, beverages sold to students on school grounds, including school
cafeterias, vending machines and fundraising activities, during the regular and extended school day will, at a minimum, meet the following standards:

  Elementary Schools
  • 1 Bottled water (may be flavored but cannot contain added sugars, sweeteners or caffeine)
  • 1 < 8 oz. servings of fat free or low fat milk
  • 1 < 8 oz. servings of fat free

            or low fat nutritionally equivalent flavored milk up to 150 calories
  • 1 < 8 oz. servings of 100 % juice (fruit or vegetable)

  with no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories per 8 oz.

  Jeffco Schools contract with Pepsi Cola

  PTAs technically are allowed to provide only Pepsi branded drinks for PTA events.

  Here are some examples of Pepsi brand products that we can serve:
  • Bottled water = Aquafina, Ethos
  • Orange Juice = Tropicana
  • Other Juices = Dole Spray single serve 100% juice products

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Coordinated School Health Teams have been established at the following schools through a mini-grant to bring parents and school administrators together to promote health and wellness (in a similar fashion to school accountability / PIE committees). If you would like to establish a CSHT in your school, please visit the RMC Roadmap website to find out how to implement the 5 steps and receive funding, if needed:

Step 1. Garner administrative buy-in
Step 2. Identify co-leaders for the Coordinated School Health Team
Step 3. Co-leaders assemble a team with representatives of all eight Coordinated
           School Health components
Step 4. The Coordinated School Health team completes the School Health Index

Bonus! A critical mass of team members, including an administrator,
          attends a Coordinated School Health training.

Jeffco Schools with Coordinated School Health Team Pilots

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Food Tasting Promotions

Jeffco Food and Nutrition Services is promoting various fruits and vegetables to elementary students again this year. They will be offering new and familiar fruits and vegetables every month, encouraging students to try them – those that go over well will be incorporated into the menu and served more often. But those deemed unpopular will likely be removed.  It’s important that we help facilitate this promotion!

Although we can’t pressure students to try these fruits and vegetables, we can encourage their willingness to sample them. And studies have shown that encouragement to eat healthy foods usually works!

So what can you do?
1. Check in with your school’s principal! Principals must be informed and agree to this fruit and vegetable promotion.

2. Once your principal is on board, talk to your cafeteria manager about the dates for this promotion at your school – promotion days will occur in September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May.

3. Help distribute the fruits and vegetables to the children! Encourage them to sample by explaining that fruits and vegetables are healthy foods. Each food is also highlighted to students as being from a particular part of the country.

JPS Health Services Resources

JPS Health Services provides program links: wellness resources, first aid classes, Medicaid, immunization forms, abuse reporting, homebound instruction, H&V screening and Sect. 504.

JPS Health-E Lifestyles Nutrition Resources

Meet Foodie the Foodbot as you learn about nutrition at this new JPS Food and Nutrition website for managing your children's healthy lifestyles.

Colorado Dept. of Education School Nutrition Index Page

CDE's School Nutrition Index Page includes a wealth of nutrition resources for parents.

USDA Team Nutrition

Become a team nutrition school to help students enjoy healthy eating and physical activity.

Join the FREE! Healthy Schools Program

The non-profit Alliance for a Healthier Generation now offers a Healthy Schools Program that provides great tools and tips for making our children's generation the healthiest.

Action for Healthy Kids School Programs

The Colorado Chapter of Action promotes the Parents are the Power TookKit empowering parents as agents of change in Colorado’s schools.

Better School Food

BSF works with local communities to improve meals and increase awareness of the connection between good food, good health and a student's ability to learn effectively.

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