Schools

Schools play an important role in promoting the health and safety of children and adolescents by helping them to establish lifelong healthy habits.

1. Talk about the importance of nutrition in health class: Students in the US receive less than 8 hours of required nutrition education each school year, far below the 40 to 50 hours that are needed to affect behavior change. Research shows that nutrition education can teach students to recognize how healthy diet influences emotional well-being and how emotions may influence eating habits.¹
2. Offer fresh fruits and vegetables at lunch: School may be one of the only opportunities for students to eat. Eating fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients and positively impact students’ school performance.²
3. Include healthy snacks and foods in vending machines: Students may rely on vending machines for snacks at school. Offer healthier snacks such as trail mix, granola bars, protein bars, and dried fruit.³
4. Take stretch breaks in classrooms: Stretch breaks benefit both the body and the mind. Take breaks to help manage emotions and stress while improving focus.⁴
5. Encourage ways to have less screen time: Excessive screen usage can lead to problems with weight, sleep, and mental health. Excessive screen time takes away from time that could be spent outside or getting exercise. For children 2 to 12, an acceptable amount of screen time is 1 hour per day. For teens and adults, an acceptable amount of screen time is two hours per day. Instead of watching TV or going on your phone on your free time, try to be active, read a book, pick up a new hobby, or spend time with friends and family.⁵
6. Keep school facilities open after hours for physical activity programs: Open facilities, such as the tennis court and track, to provide a safe and familiar place for students, their families, and community members to be active.⁶
7. Enforce a school policy on vaping and tobacco use: E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. Have school policies in place to help prevent students from using these substances while promoting healthy behaviors and creating a smoke-free environment.⁷
8. Educate students on the short-term and long-term negative impacts: Research from the Food and Drug Administration suggest that when teachers discuss the health consequences of vaping, students may be less likely to vape. ⁸  There are resources to help people quit vaping, such as Drop the Vape, which is a text-based quit vaping program for youth and young adults.⁹

Quick Links

1. Nutrition Education
2. School Performance and Eating Habits
3. School Vending Machine Study, 2014 (CDC)
4. Benefits of Stretch Breaks in the Classroom
5. Screen Time
6. Joint Use Agreements
7. Tobacco-Free School District (American Heart Association)
8. Vaping Prevention
9. Drop the Vape

Local Resources

1. BRiDGES (website, Facebook)

Updated October 28, 2025