We all know the importance of raising healthy children, and that parents cannot do it alone. Schools have an important role to play.
The national School Beverage Guidelines are common sense, supported by science and responsive to concerns about nutrition in schools. Because they offer the right balance, the School Beverage Guidelines have been endorsed by 82% of parents nationwide (Public Opinion Strategies survey, Feb 2007).
- Learn more about the School Beverage Guidelines and other available resources
- Educate your local school board, principal or superintendent about the guidelines
- Encourage newspaper editors, school board members and your state and local elected officials to support the guidelines and do all they can to get them implemented
- Support nationwide efforts to get the guidelines implemented by posting a Web button, sharing information with friends and colleagues and signing up for news updates
- Talk to your kids about the importance of good nutrition and the way in which the guidelines help achieve that goal
Learn more about the School Beverage Guidelines
School Beverage Guidelines: For a full description of the guidelines and their role in schools, visit this page. You can also download a .pdf file of the School Beverage Guidelines for all grade levels.
Research and Frequently Asked Questions: This information will provide you with answers and insight into nutrition in schools and the guidelines.
Educate your Principal and School Board
Download the templates below to draft your message to members of your school board:
Letter or Email to School Board, Principal or Superintendent: This template will help you introduce and make a strong case for the implementation of the guidelines at your school.
Brochure: Distribute this brochure to educators at your school and fellow parents.
Encourage Others
You can make a difference in your community by informing your elected leaders, peers, and local newspaper about the guidelines’ balanced, common sense approach to beverages in schools.
Click here to send an email to your state and local elected officials expressing your support for the guidelines and their implementation.
Click here to send an email to your local media urging them to express support for the guidelines and their implementation.
Support nationwide efforts
Join parents across the country. Help spread the word about the guidelines and their role in teaching children the importance of a balanced diet and exercise.
Post a School Beverage Guidelines Web button on your site to connect visitors here.
Sign-up for regular updates to stay informed about the School Beverage Guidelines and available resources.
Inform your friends and colleagues by forwarding them a link to this Web site.
Talk to Your Kids
Recognizing the unique education setting of schools, the American Beverage Association’s national School Beverage Guidelines are designed to give school-aged children a range of lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverage options. But managing the calories children consume through beverages is just one component of helping them develop a balanced lifestyle. Children need to learn the importance of combining good nutrition with regular exercise and physical activity, and practice a balanced lifestyle at school as well as at home.
Talk to your kids about the School Beverage Guidelines, and the importance of both a balanced diet and exercise. Visit our Research and FAQ section to learn more.