The Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 required all schools to develop comprehensive policies for physical activity and nutritious eating. Local school units could decide the specifics for their school wellness programs. The first step in establishing a program is a base assessment. Schools need to know what programs they already have and what areas need improvement. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity provide guidelines on wellness programs.
School and community participants constitute the health council. Diversity is important; students, parents, teachers, administrators, nutrition and health professionals, and community members should be included. Using programs such as School Health Index or Changing the Scene, these councils establish the baseline assessment and plan changes in nutritional and physical activity policies. Government and foundation agencies provide model health plans, but ultimately the council develops a specific wellness plan that considers the socioeconomic and culture of local schools.
Nutrition wellness programs promote healthy eating in school and provide education on nutritious eating outside of school. Health councils analyze school breakfast and lunch menus and recommend healthier menu options. They recommend nutritious snacks and milk or fruit juices to replace soda and candy vending machines. Health classes offer units in building nutritious diets and being able to understand food labels. Other classes also can aid in nutrition education. For example, a math class might analyze how many calories are in a fast-food meal.
Model school-wellness programs recommend that elementary students have a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity a week and a recess of at least 20 minutes per day. Middle and high school students should have a minimum of 225 minutes of physical activity per week. Teachers are encouraged to provide short breaks for physical activity during the school day. All schools should offer intramural sports and physical activity clubs. Physical education teachers need to be certified, and physical activities should not be used as punishment.
A comprehensive school wellness program also encourages staff members to make healthy nutrition and physical exercise decisions. Local school districts provide education and design activities that promote healthy living. For example, schools in the district can provide exercise equipment or form exercise teams that compete to see who can walk or run the most miles. Health teachers instruct on positive nutrition choices, and some districts even have programs such as "Maintain Don't Gain" that asks staff members to voluntarily make healthy nutrition decisions during holiday seasons. Schools with staff wellness programs report teachers have higher job satisfaction and more energy.