Chartwells Healthy Choice option with Balance Choices!

Chartwells is committed to making healthy food choices available to all students in the communities we serve.  We have always been able to meet or exceed federal nutrition standards, yet this program takes it further. 

Balanced Choices increases the better-for-you snacks, beverages and meals available in both elementary and secondary schools and, equally important, educates students on how to identify foods that are truly healthy, rather than appear to be healthy.

Balanced Choices Meal Parameters:

• No more than 200 total calories
• No more than 35% calories from fat per package
• No more than 10% calories from saturated fat per package
• No more than 35% sugar by weight per package (excluding whole foods).
• No more than 480 mg sodium per package

At a minimum, 20 percent of snacks and beverages in Chartwells schools will fit our Balanced Choices parameters.  Posters, tags and stickers make it easy for students to identify these healthy choices.

BETTER-FOR-YOU SNACKS, including baked chips, pretzels, cereal bars and yogurts, must meet these parameters:

• No more than 200 total calories per package
• No more than 35 percent calories from fat per package
• No more than 10 percent calories from saturated fat per package
• No more than 35 percent sugar by weight per package
• No more than 480 mg sodium per package


BETTER-FOR-YOU BEVERAGES, including low fat milk, 100 percent juice, bottled water and flavored water without any added sugar.  Beverages must meet these parameters:

• 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice limited to 12 oz portion
• Fat free and 1 percent milk products, 8-16 oz portion size
• Beverages must be caffeine free except flavored milk

Each meal meets precise nutritional parameters and is highlighted on each serving line.  This meal program goes beyond the USDA meal requirements because it provides the recommended nutrients in a single meal instead of an average of all meals served in one week.

The Chartwells Menu Logos:

	Balanced Choices meals are available daily. Look for this icon or (*) astrick to identify meal components. All Balanced Choices Meals are served with specific side items and 1% or less milk.
	This initiative is part of Chartwells continued commitment to the health & welfare of the studens we serve. It is also an opportunity for us to contribute to the local economy. Our monthly locally grown menu features are indicated on the menu.
	Our menus recognize the positive impact whole grains can make on the health of children. We strive to make half of our grains whole.

For all ages Grade K-12 
Chartwells 10-Minute Nutrition Lessons Plans

Chartbusters is a year long program that includes special cafeteria promotions and events developed to maximize student participation in our healthy breakfast and lunch meals.  This year we will focus on the following:

FOOD AND CULTURES from September through December
BREAKFAST  from January through March
SUSTAINABILITY from April to June

The Chartwells Team of registered dietitians has developed lessons for lower elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school students for each Chartbusters topic for each month of the school year.  Each lesson includes a suggested teacher-guided EAT cafeteria connection, a LEARN 10 minute classroom lesson and a LIVE home activity.  Teachers may download the Chartwells 10-Minute Nutrition Lesson Plans from our new Chartwells Teacher's Nutrition Education Resource Site at
http://eatlearnlive.com/teacherResources/