Schools get a healthy start with changes to school meals, but smaller portions: New meal standards focus on healthy foods to fuel learning

TOPEKA - Kansas schools are off to a healthy start thanks to changes made to school meals as part of the federal Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act.  Signed into law in 2011, the legislation contains provisions to make meals more nutritious.

The new school meals focus on more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, as well as providing low-fat or non-fat milk and less sodium and fat.  The purpose of the legislation was to promote better nutrition and help students avoid risks for health problems such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

“We know that well-nourished children are ready to learn and will do better in class, so we’re very pleased to see this added emphasis on healthy foods for students,“ said Cheryl Johnson, director of Child Nutrition and Wellness at the Kansas State Department of Education.  “I’m proud of the way Kansas schools have embraced these changes and have been working to gradually implement the changes in the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.  School meals for Kansas students are now even healthier than they were before.”

The changes in the meal standards are in line with the latest nutritional science and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Built upon recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, the new standards do the following:

            Ensure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;

            Increase offerings of whole grain-rich foods;

            Offer only fat-free or low-fat milk;

            Limit calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size;

Increase the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, added sugars and     sodium.

The first change is that we are required to offer 2 oz. of meat/meat alternate.  Last year on homemade items we were able to give them a little more than that.  This year we cannot give them less than 2 oz. and we cannot give them more than 2 oz.

Last year we were able to give them as much bread as they would eat.  This year we can only give them a minimum of 1 oz. of grain bread a day for all grade groups; for K-5 a maximum of 9 oz. a week, 6-8 a maximum of 10 oz. a week, and 9-12 a maximum of 12 oz. a week.   They can buy extra bread or an extra entrée, but we cannot give it to them.  It is also required that all bread items must be whole grain by July 1, 2014.

We are also limited to less than or equal to 1230 mg of sodium for Grades K-5, 1360 mg for 6-8 and 1420 mg a day for Grades 9-12.  It will be even less in the next few years.

Calorie levels daily are K-5: less than or equal to 550-650, 6-8: less than or equal to 600-700,    9-12: less than or equal to 750-850.

Saturated fat must be less than 10% of the total calories for the week.

The children are now required to take ½ cup fruit and ½ cup vegetable or 1 cup of fruit or vegetable.

Please encourage your children to eat all of the items that are offered.  We do have the menus posted on each school’s website.  We encourage you to look at them.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to implement all of the Federal Guidelines.