Laurelhurst
Nutrition
Advisory
Committee

Tips on How to Start Your Own
School Nutrition Committee

Share your idea with your principal.
Approach your principal to see if your idea has backing.  Then find a concerned member or subcommittee of your school leadership organization (ie. PTA, PTSA, Site Council, etc.) and conduct a presentation of your ideas for them.

Find at least one committed individual to help you get started.
It’s vital to have someone with whom you can brainstorm and exchange ideas.

Schedule a meeting with the district nutrition manager to let him/her know of your plans.
At that time you can ask if there are other district schools making similar efforts, and determine the level of support you can expect from district personnel.

Create a mission statement and goals for your committee.

Build support for your cause. 
Recruit a variety of individuals to be involved with your committee – food service management, parents, teachers, students, your school nurse, and other healthcare professionals. Make sure you collaborate with your school district nutrition department and that your support from the district is clearly communicated.

Determine your committee’s plan of action before the school year starts. 
Map out those events you will participate in, how often your communication piece will go out, and who will head up these activities.

Determine the best way, or ways, to disseminate information to your audience. 
A quarterly newsletter and/or your weekly school publication are a few ideas.

Create a marketing plan. 
Come up with a catchy tagline and logo.  Find a graphic designer who is passionate about this topic and ask if he/she might do it pro-bono.  (We have John Swofford of Windermere Real Estate/Madison Park Office, to thank for our wonderful “Eat Smart, Get Smart” logo.)