This report presents findings about the challenges districts face in implementing
the updated meal standards, specifically as they relate to equipment and infrastructure needs.
Studies of schools in three states showed considerable improvements in children's eating habits under the USDA's
updated meal standards.
Since
the updated meal standards were implemented, students of all ages are choosing lunches higher in nutritional quality with fewer calories per gram and consuming more fruits and larger portions of their entrees and vegetables.
Independent research shows that a majority of American kids like healthier school lunches, the number of students that like their meals is growing, and that
updated meal standards are working to help improve students» health.
Not exact matches
To ensure that all foods sold in schools are healthier, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
update nutrition
standards for snack foods and beverages and align them with the school
meal guidelines.
We finally we have a seamless set of
meal standards, all of which have been
updated to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The First Lady championed the transformation of the school food environment through the Healthy, Hunger - Free Kids Act, which
updated school
meal nutrition
standards for the first time in 15 years and increased funding for the first time in 30 years.
While we agree that some aspects of the
updates to the
standards are challenging, we favor targeted and constructive solutions that do not involve Congress waiving school
meal or snack
standards.»
Updated standards for school
meals are changing yesterday's menus.
Nutrition
standards for school
meals have not been
updated since 1995.
Schools can serve healthy lunches, but whether kids will eat them is a question that has been asked often since the 2012 - 13 school year, when districts across the United States raised the nutritional quality of
meals to meet
updated national
standards.
In January 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, finalized its
updated nutritional
standards for school
meals in keeping with the Healthy Hunger - Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law No. 111 - 296), which reauthorized the school
meal programs and placed an emphasis on the need to improve access to healthy foods in schools.
Several participants indicated that although training needs still exist on
meal pattern requirements and certification paperwork completion, they may be less prominent now that most schools have adapted to the
updated standards.
Many of these recipes incorporate vegetables and legumes, helping schools meet
updated nutrition
standards for school
meals while increasing consumption of healthy choices.
This report explores the survey results on SFA directors» perspectives on
meal and snack nutrition requirements and on districts» experiences implementing the
updated standards near the end of SY 2014 - 15.
The
standards for the school
meal programs are periodically
updated to reflect the latest nutrition guidelines.
The
updated standards require that
meals include more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and only fat - free or low - fat milk.
Schools across the country have made big changes in the cafeteria as a result of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
updated nutrition
standards for school
meals.
This report describes the survey findings and panelists» insights and offers recommendations to states, districts, vendors, families, and communities to enhance
meal programs» success in implementing
updated nutrition
standards and encouraging healthy eating among students.
The survey found that since 2014, when the majority of
updated nutrition
standards for school
meals were in effect, more school
meal programs have launched initiatives to market healthier school food choices and increase their appeal among students.
«School
meal programs depend on Congress» support to help make
updated nutrition
standards a success for all students.»
Effective food policy actions are part of a comprehensive approach to improving nutrition environments, defined as those factors that influence food access.1 Improvements in the nutritional quality of all foods and beverages served and sold in schools have been recommended to protect the nutritional health of children, especially children who live in low - resource communities.2 As legislated by the US Congress, the 2010 Healthy Hunger - Free Kids Act (HHFKA)
updated the
meal patterns and nutrition
standards for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to align with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.3 The revised
standards, which took effect at the beginning of the 2012 - 2013 school year, increased the availability of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits and specified weekly requirements for beans / peas as well as dark green, red / orange, starchy, and other vegetables.
«
Updated healthy school
meal standards were created based on the expert advice of pediatricians and nutrition experts and are being widely embraced by students, parents, educators, and nutrition professionals.
Earlier this year the USDA released a proposed rule that would
update the nutrition
standards for
meals served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued rules
updating the nutrition
standards for
meals served through CACFP.
With the passage of the Healthy, Hungry - Free Kids Act of 2010, in addition to improving school
meals, Congress required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
update nearly non-existent nutrition
standards on so - called competitive foods.
The bill, largely the same as the version introduced last Congress, would give school districts and food service administrators the tools and resources they need to prepare
meals that meet the
updated USDA school food
standards by providing loan guarantees for kitchen infrastructure and equipment upgrades, authorizing grants for small but critical equipment purchases, and supporting innovative training opportunities to strengthen the school food service workforce.