Child Nutrition Services is in the process of implementing the new USDA lunch meal patterns enacted in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Many of these new regulations had already been put into practice at SCS some time ago, such as increasing whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and increasing varieties of vegetables.
Of the new regulations, the things that will be most evident to students coming through the lunch line are:
1) Each child requesting a complete meal will now be required to take a fruit or vegetable.
2) More whole-grain rich foods will be incorporated as they become available from our suppliers. This is done in an effort to replace simple carbohydrates from refined grains with complex carbohydrates found in whole wheat flour and other whole grains. We were already serving a number of whole-grain rich foods and will convert entirely to whole-grain rich foods within the next couple of years.
3) A greater variety of vegetables will be seen as we seek to offer the full "rainbow" of vegetable sub-groups. Sub-groups include red/orange, dark green, legumes, etc. This was a recommendation which we were already meeting that has now become a regulation.
4) More appropriate serving sizes for all ages. In the past, schools were allowed to use one serving size for all grades. We now have smaller servings for PK-5 and mid-size servings for 6-8. This is part of the effort to combat childhood obesity by more closely meeting the caloric and nutritional needs of children at various ages.
5) Elimination of the Mega Meal ($3.50) at the high school level. We will keep one or two of the most popular items for a time and will offer them as part of our regular menu once or twice a week instead of every day.
6) Flavored milks will now be offered in skim instead of 1%. White milk will still be available in skim or 1%.
7) All items menued that day must be offered on all lines at a school (i.e., no more lines just for snack items).
Changes made by the USDA to the meal patterns are based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans More information can also be found on the Choose My Plate website.
If you have questions, please contact us at the email or telephone numbers below.
Overview of Child Nutrition Services
We in Child Nutrition Services believe that a healthy diet is vital to a student's learning and well-being. We strive to provide Stanly County students with breakfast, lunch, and snacks that are both nutritious and delicious. With the current obesity and health crisis in America, we are working with teachers and community partners to provide healthy meals and educate our students about making healthy choices and increasing their physical activity levels. If you have any questions or concerns about school meals, please feel free to contact us.
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