GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutrition provider and student well-being champion Sodexo partnered with Birmingham Public Schools in Birmingham, Mich. to help the district's eight elementary schools earn Bronze-level certification in the United States Department of Agriculture's HealthierUS School Challenge, a program designed to promote good nutrition and physical activity.

To earn HealthierUS School Challenge certification, Birmingham Public Schools worked with Sodexo, a partner for nearly 20 years, to create programs that foster student achievement by combining student nutrition, physical activity and nutrition education.

Sodexo's team in the district contributed to the certification effort by giving students healthy options and teaching them about the importance of making smart nutrition choices – a continuation of the company's long term student well-being work in Birmingham.

Some of Sodexo's key nutrition contributions include:

• Offering whole grains for more than four years
• Offering at least six fresh fruit and vegetable dishes as side items for more than six years
• Offering snacks in elementary schools that meet Alliance for a Healthier Generation guidelines for more than six years
• Working with the district's wellness committee for the past five years

"We've been focused on student health and wellness for years and these awards really validate our efforts and our work with Sodexo," said Steve King, manager of operations for Birmingham Public Schools. "We understand how nutrition affects student achievement, but we also realize it can be a challenge to get students to make healthy choices.  Sodexo supports our mission and encourages good nutrition by offering balanced school meals that students love to eat."

Sodexo keeps Birmingham students interested in school meals with fun programs and special menu items.  Not only does the company sample fresh produce on a regular basis, but Sodexo also lets elementary students sample dishes like sushi and Asian stir fry with brown rice to help them discover a whole new world of delicious and nutritious flavors.

"HealthierUS School Challenge certification is a tremendous accomplishment on its own, but having eight schools earn awards simultaneously is an amazing achievement," said Steve Dunmore, president of Sodexo Education - Schools. "Sodexo takes our role creating learning-friendly environments very seriously and we are proud that we can use our expertise to improve student well-being and achievement for our partner school districts like Birmingham Public Schools."

Sodexo is committed to take measurable sustainable actions that ensure a brighter future in the areas of health and wellness, environmental stewardship and community development. Sodexo focuses on nutrition, achievement, environment, community and activity to promote student well-being.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.