Chartwells School Dining Services, the company that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks to over 2.5 million school children in 38 states, has stepped up its fight against the national obesity epidemic by creating a wellness regimen, called Balanced Choices, that teaches students how to EAT, LEARN, and LIVE well.

Local schools are mandated by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act to promote a healthy school environment by fall of 2006 and Chartwells is poised to help them get there.

Eating well this school year in Chartwells schools will include trans fat free cooking oil and margarine as well as whole grain bread and rolls among other healthy foods. Balanced Choices will teach students to compose a healthy meal from a wide variety of foods and will highlight healthy snacks and beverages according to precise nutrition parameters. Students will choose healthy items in the cafeteria and in the new state-of-the-art Balanced Choices healthy school vending machines.

“Learning well requires not only a well nourished child,” says Keith Cullinan, President of Chartwells, “but also requires knowledge of nutrition and the benefits of an active life. To help every child to succeed, Chartwells will donate a unique and comprehensive nutrition and physical activity classroom curriculum, HealthSmart, to each Chartwells school district across the country.”

Living well for students brings it all together to create a healthy school environment where the student can practice their new healthy approach towards eating and living. Chartwells will contribute to the local school district with healthy fundraising programs, healthy classroom celebration menus, and active learning programs such as health fairs, food demos, and kitchen tours, all with a healthy edge.

A fresh and contemporary marketing and promotion campaign will entice students to choose the healthy options and will inform parents of the healthy foods and programs available to their children.

These comprehensive tools will be introduced to Chartwells’ school district partners in the coming weeks.