Greenbriar Children’s Center‘s Wellness Policy on Physical Activity and Nutrition
Greenbriar Children’s Center is a nonprofit organization devoted to the care of children and youth who have reached difficult times in their family life and strive to provide them a normal, healthy lifestyle leading to the progressive development of children and young adults and to the strengthening of families, primarily in the state of Georgia. We promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to grow by supporting healthy eating and physical activity, therefore the wellness policy of Greenbriar children’s Center is as follows:
Nutrition/wellness promotion and education:
Note* All residents, staff, faculty, friends and families will be encourage d to participate in any of the following goals, activities, and events within the safety and security regulations set forth by the organization. The Food Service Coordinator and Assistant Director will conduct an assessment of the wellness policy every 3 years, at a minimum. This assessment will determine: Compliance with the wellness policy, How the wellness policy compares to model wellness policies, and progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy. Under the direction of the Assistant Director the Food Service Coordinator will monitor compliance day to day.
Planting, harvesting, maintenance, and upkeep of the on sight vegetable garden. Planting of the garden will begin in April of each year and the garden be replanted in September with summer and fall crops respectively. Assistance from residents, staff, and volunteers will be solicited.
Cooking classes, food safety, and nutrition education presented by any approved the organization and/or the Food Service Coordinator. Cooking classes will take place three times weekly with emphasizing low sodium, food safety, low saturated fat and meal patter guidelines for healthy children and adults as set forth by The USDA. Under the supervisor of The Food Service Coordinator, residents will assist in food prep and service. Nutrition education presentations will be given every three months on topics relevant to the age group being served.
Attendance of Smoking cessation presentations and access to smoking cessation resources will be present every 6 months.
Physical Activity:
Access to on site facilities and equipment as they pertain to physical activity for at least 1 hour daily (Gymnasium, basketball court, balls, nets etc.). This includes enjoyable, developmentally- appropriate, culturally-relevant, participatory activities (e.g. dance contests).
Encouragement, facilitation and participation in community events related to health and wellness (e.g. The Color Run marathon, stress management seminars).
Standards and nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages
This organization will follow all guidelines set forth by the entities that oversee and fund our meal service programs.
Food that does not fall with the guidelines in the specified meal patters will not be provided by the organization. *note; As our organization relies on donations, food items falling outside of the guidelines will not be offered in the place of any meal or meal component including snack.
Nutrition standards:
Grain products must contain 50 percent or more whole grains by weight (have a whole grain as the first ingredient); or Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or protein food; or Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/ vegetable; and The food must meet the nutrient standards for calories, sodium, sugar. The only soft drinks that may be offered must be no caffeine and no calorie. They may not be offered in the place of any meal component.
