Irvine Unified School District*

Findings 6.1 Control over competitive foods: Most school district food service directors do not have control over all food and beverages sold on school campuses. Most often excluded are competitive foods, i.e., food and beverages sold through vending machines, student stores, and fund raising events. District Response: In Irvine Unified School District, the district Nutrition Services director works cooperatively with other individuals having responsibility for food and beverages served/sold outside of meal programs (assistant principals, athletic directors, ASB advisors, teachers, PTA officers) to ensure compliance with current legislation and Education Code. 6.2 Compliance with federal and state laws: Responding Orange County food service directors indicated their school districts are either in compliance with or will be in compliance with recently enacted federal and state laws addressing child wellness and obesity. District Response: Irvine Unified School District is in compliance with recently enacted federal and state laws addressing child wellness and obesity. 6.3 School nutrition programs: Some Orange County schools have developed creative nutrition programs that go beyond state and federal legislation to fight obesity. District Response: Irvine Unified School District goes beyond state and federal legislation requirements designed to fight obesity by offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day at breakfast and lunch, by offering main-dish salads (Chef, Chinese Chicken, Caesar, Tuna) every day at lunch, and by using a computerized Point of Sale system that allows parents to go online to view their child(ren)'s food selections and to set limits, i.e., no ala carte purchases.

Recommendations 7.1 Control over competitive foods: Orange County school districts should consider granting food service directors more control over sales of all food and beverages on district campuses. District Response: Having individuals work cooperatively to determine what can be served/sold on school campuses is the most effective approach in Irvine Unified School District. Our Wellness Policy states the following: "All food and beverages sold on IUSD campuses during the day and during after school programs shall be approved by the Food Service Director or designee to ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines, state and federal regulations and current health codes. This regulation is not intended to apply to after-school functions or events, e.g., interscholastic athletic contests, parent nights, fund-raising events." 7.2 Compliance with federal and state laws: School districts should ensure compliance with legislated actions and dates addressing child wellness and obesity. District Response: Irvine Unified School District is in compliance with legislated actions and dates addressing child wellness and obesity having adopted a district Wellness Policy and currently implementing that policy. 7.3 School nutrition programs: To fight obesity, Orange County schools should consider researching and developing nutrition programs that go beyond state and federal legislation. District Response: School nutrition personnel throughout Orange County and the state of California meet regularly to share ideas and best practices that other schools/districts can implement to improve child nutrition programs beyond what is required by state and federal legislation. With the strained budgets and inadequate reimbursement for meals served, few (if any) districts can afford research and development.