Office of Educational Services & Support

Team Nutrition is an integrated, behavior-based, comprehensive nationwide plan for promoting the nutritional health of the nation’s school children.

Team Nutrition was developed in response to:

• the growing number of overweight children and adolescents,
• the decreasing levels of physical activity levels in homes and in schools, and
• the need for school lunch improvements so that school lunches served are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines and the Food Guide Pyramid

Team Nutrition Strategies:  

• Provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition food service professionals to help them serve meals that look and taste good, and meet nutritional standards,
• Provide multifaceted, integrated nutrition education for children and their parents, and
• Provide support for healthy eating and physical activity by involving school administrators and other school and community partners

SD Team Nutrition

• The SD Department of Education administers the Team Nutrition Program in South Dakota through Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS).  CANS contracts with South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service to manage some of SD’s Team Nutrition projects as well as other individuals and agencies who help get the work done.

South Dakota Team Nutrition Goal:

• To give students the knowledge, skills, and opportunities for making healthful eating choices and establishing active lifestyles that will benefit them for years to come

Nutrition Education and Training/Team Nutrition

Diet and health are inextricably linked, and good nutrition is a key preventive health measure. USDA is committed to follow President Clinton’s injunction that, "We have to change the way we live if we ever want to be healthy as a people."  One of the ways we have to change is the way we eat.

Child and Adult Nutrition Services provides funding to schools and agencies through Team Nutrition mini-grants and assists schools and agencies with training for food service staff, teachers and others who work to improve the nutrition environment of their local school or agency. CANS provides technical assistance, nutrition education curricula, workshops, and media resources. Brochures explaining good eating habits, can be ordered by calling (605) 773-3413.