Good-Bye to Fries in the Cafeteria?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed changes, including limits on white potatoes, that would give school breakfast and lunch a healthy makeover -- and it won't take celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to make it happen.

The proposed rule would update the nutritional standards of school meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs that are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. President Barack Obama signed the act into law in December 2010. The changes would enhance the nutritional quality of meals, while also limiting what it considers less nutritional foods -- like potatoes, peas and corn.

The proposal is based on October 2009 recommendations by the National Academies' Institute of Medicine in the School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children report. Nearly 32 million kids are fed through school meal programs every day when school is in session.

Proposed Changes at a Glance:

• Include daily serving of fruit at both breakfast and lunch and a serving of vegetables at lunch as well.
• Break planning meals down by age/grade levels.
• Limit the amount of starchy vegetables (such as corn, peas and potatoes served), and eliminate them from breakfasts.
• 100% fruit juice can count as fruit servings – but no more than half of the time.
• At least half of the grains served during the week need to be considered “whole grain rich.”
• Schools would also be required to limit saturated fat, sodium, calories and trans fats in meals.

Why the Proposed Changes?

It’s been 15 years since the standards of school food were last raised, and experts say that nutrition practices in American schools are lagging. The changes would bring more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains to school lunches, encouraging kids to eat better by only offering better foods.

"The United States is facing an obesity epidemic and the crisis of poor diets threatens the future of our children – and our nation," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "With many children consuming as many as half their daily calories at school, strengthening nutritional standards is an important step in the Obama administration's effort to combat childhood obesity and improve the health and well-being of all our kids."

Schools wouldn’t be left to shoulder the cost of healthier meals alone. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act also increases lunch reimbursements by 6 cents per meal. The USDA would also work with schools more to help them improve.

"Raising a healthier generation of kids will require hard work and commitment of a host of partners," said Vilsack. "We understand that these improved meal standards may present challenges for some school districts, but the new law provides important new resources, technical assistance and flexibility to help schools raise the bar for our kids."

View a comparison of a new sample menu versus current menus on the USDA Web site.

Article by Sarah W. Caron, EducationWorld Social Media Editor
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