RE: USDA Issues New School Lunch Nutrition Standards

[Guest guest]

Election year it is Finally, something I like from the First Lady

Merav Levi, RD, MS, CDN, CSGA dietitian, not the food police.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/meravlevi

" Life is not measured by the number of breath you take, but by the moments that

take your breath away. " - Carlin " People don't forget the truth, they just

become better in lying " (Revolutionary Road)

> To: rd-usa

> From: nrord1@...

> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:39:27 -0500

> Subject: USDA Issues New School Lunch Nutrition Standards

>

> www.medscape.com

> For the first time in 15 years, the National School Lunch Program has

> raised nutrition standards.

>

> The new rules mean kids will see more fruits and vegetables every day.

> Portions will be smaller. Only low-fat or skim milk will be served. There

> will be a lot more whole grains. And schools will get more money -- an

> extra six cents a meal -- from the federal government.

>

> But Congress in 2011 forbade the USDA from limiting servings of potatoes.

> The law also allows schools to count the tomato paste on pizza as a

> vegetable. But Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that won't throw a

> monkey wrench into the new standards.

>

> " It was a bit unfortunate that some groups had powerful friends in Congress

> and basically tried to sort of short-change [kids] and create some

> confusion with these standards, " Vilsack said at a news conference. " Our

> response was to set up minimum requirements. You have to have a minimum

> level of dark green vegetables, you've got to have a minimum level of red

> or orange or yellow vegetables. "

>

> Celebrity chef Ray, who joined Vilsack in announcing the new

> standards, says the potato/pizza loopholes won't keep the new rules from

> making school lunches healthier.

>

> " OK, so congress left pizza a vegetable. But we are changing the game

> today, " Ray said. " That [lunch] tray is going to have leafy greens and

> colorful fruit on it. If one of the other vegetables happens to be pizza or

> French fries in some schools that day, it doesn’t negate the fact that on

> the tray there is going to be a goal, depending on grade level, of roughly

> 800 calories -- and it will include vegetables and fruits. "

>

> Vilsack said that schools will be encouraged to serve baked or roasted

> potatoes instead of French fries.

>

> About 32 million U.S. kids eat school lunches. Many of these kids get half

> their daily calories from these meals.

>

> *New School Lunch Rules*

>

> Today's rules mean that school lunches must:

>

> - Offer a minimum of 8 to 10 ounces of whole grains. No more than two

> desserts a week may be used to meet this minimum

> - Offer at least a half cup per week of dark green vegetables

> - Offer at least 3/4 cup red/orange vegetables for grades K-8, and at

> least 1 1/4 cups in grades 9-12

> - Offer at least a half cup of beans or peas

> - Offer at least a half cup of starchy vegetables. There is no limit on

> starchy vegetables

> - Offer at least a half cup of fruit in grades K-8 and at least 1 cup of

> fruit in grades 9-12

> - Offer at least a half cup (grades K-8) or 3/4 cup (grades 9-12) of

> " other vegetables, " which may be met with any of the above vegetables

> except for starchy vegetables

> - Allow tofu as a meat alternative

> - Get federal reimbursement only if they offer at least a half cup of a

> fruit or vegetable

> - Contain no fewer than 550 calories for grades K-5, 600 calories for

> grades 6-8, and 750 calories for grades 9-12

> - Contain no more than 650 calories for grades K-5, 700 calories for

> grades 6-8, and 850 calories for grades 9-12

> - Obtain less than 10% of total calories from saturated fat

> - Have zero trans fat

> - Limit salt according to grade level

> - Offer at least a cup of low-fat or skim milk

>

> These minimum requirements for vegetables and fruits are far lower than the

> recommended portions. For example, while the minimum vegetable requirement

> adds up to 3/4 of a cup for grades K-8, the recommended amount is 3 3/4

> cups.

>

> " Kids will get six-and-a-half more cups of fruits and vegetables than they

> did before, " Vilsack said.

>

> The cost of the new standards is expected to be $3.2 billion over the next

> five years.

>

> There are new standards for school breakfasts, too, although schools will

> be given time to phase in the breakfast recommendations.

>

> Although schools may phase in the new lunch recommendations over the coming

> year, Vilsack said that " several thousand schools " have already adopted the

> new school lunch plan.

>

> Ray said school cooks would be getting new training, and get a chance to

> participate in healthy, tasty, and attractive recipe competitions. To start

> things off, Ray created a lunch menu served at the elementary school that

> served as a setting for today's announcement. That menu was:

>

> - Tacos with turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, Mexican brown

> rice, and whole-grain flat bread

> - Black bean and corn salad

> - Mixed fresh fruits

> - Low-fat or non-fat milk

>

> The new school lunch rules aren't the end of the program. In coming months,

> the USDA will set new rules for vending machines on school campuses.

>

>

> --

> Ortiz, MS, RD

> The Frugal Dietitian <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

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