Are school lunches healthy?
The foodservice staff is committed to upholding USDA’s new initiatives to provide healthy school meals to help your child grow in mind and in body. Menus are planned by trained foodservice professionals with the goal of providing a variety of nourishing menu items to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Changes have been made in the menus and recipes to reduce the fat, salt and sugar content, while at the same time increasing the fiber, fruit and vegetable content of the school meals. Can schools serve any foods they want? USDA has established guidelines that must be followed. The School Lunch Meal Pattern is designed to provide students with one-third of their daily nutritional needs. A school lunch must include certain amounts of the following: • Meat or meat alternate • Vegetable and / or fruit • Bread or bread alternate • Milk Aren’t school lunches starchy? Carbohydrates (starch) are the major sources of energy in the American diet. Nutritionists recommend that Americans incr
