USDA Issues New School Lunch Nutrition Standards

[Guest guest]

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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