USDA announces new nutrition standards for school lunch program

As part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, the USDA was required to release new nutrition standards for all schools participating in the government sponsored school meal programs.

The USDA was tasked with creating new nutritional standards that would:

• be in line with the USDA MyPyramid eating guidelines
• would promote healthier foods for children
• fight childhood obesity
• rid schools of "junk food" that is currently sold in vending machines and as side options in school stores or lunch programs

They have just released their proposed standards.  I can see there is already a lot of criticism but overall, I think this is a huge step in a better nutritional meal for children. More fruits, more veggies, whole grains and lower fat!

Here are a few key changes:

CHANGES IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS AND TYPES OF FOOD: BREAKFAST

By food group:

Fruit:

current:  1/2 cup/day

New:  1 cup/day

Grains and Meat/Meat Alternatives:

current:  2 grains or 2 meats/meat alterantives or 1 of each

New:  1.4-2 grains/day plus: 1-2 meat/meat l aternatives per day

Whole Grains

current:  encouraged

New:  at least half of grains to be whole grains

Milk:

current:  1/2 cup/day

New:  1 cup must be 1% fat or skim (nonfat)

CHANGES IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS AND TYPES OF FOOD: LUNCH

Fruit and Vegetables:

current:  1/2 - 1 cup/day of fruit and vegetables combined

New:  3/4 - 1 cup of vegetables plus 1/2 - 1 cup of fruit per  day

Vegetables:

current: no specifications about type of vegetable

New:  weekly requirement for dark green and orange vegetables and legumes and limits to starchy vegetables (like potatoes)

Grains:

current:  1.8-3 oz equivalents grains

New:  1.8-2.6 oz equivalents meats/meat alternatives

Whole Grains

current:  encouraged

New:  at least half of grains to be whole grains

Milk:

current:  1/2 cup per day

New:  1 cup must be 1% fat or skim (nonfat)

Meat/Meat Alternatives:

current:  1.5-3 oz equivalents meats/meat alternatives

New:  1.6-2.4 oz equivalents meats/meat alternatives

The guidelines are spelled out by age and by meal plan.

Read the guidelines (warning it is 78 pages long!)

The government has invited you to share your comments but they must be postmarked on or before April 13, 2011. Preferred method: Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Comments should be addressed to

Julie Brewer, Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, Virginia 22302–1594.

Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the Food and Nutrition Service Child Nutrition Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, Virginia 22302–1594

Nutrition Education Resources:

• Nutrition Lesson Plans
• Printable worksheets
• Family Tip sheets
• Monthly Kids Online Nutrition Newsletter
• Nutrition Games and Puzzles Interactive online computer games for classrooms