''New regulations promote healthier snack foods in schools''
Jessica Donze Black speaks with Online Athens about the USDA's decision to set nutrition standards on school snack foods and beverages.
More info"Orange County Public Schools are continuing to offer up a host of different lunch options to students throughout the county, expanding their taste buds through different food choices.
A lot goes into planning the school division's lunch menus for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Gone are the days of simple menu planning. The Virginia Department of Education's School Nutrition Programs has very specific guidelines for what makes a healthy meal. Students in kindergarten through eighth grades must be offered one-half cup of fruit, three-fourths a cup of vegetables, one ounce of grains, one ounce of meat or meat alternative and one cup of milk each day. But it doesn't stop there. In any given week, students in kindergarten through eighth grades must be offered 2 ½ cups of fruit, 3 ¾ cups of vegetables and five cups of milk weekly. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade must then be offered eight to nine ounces of grains, eight to 10 ounces of meat or meat alternative. Students in sixth through eighth grades must be offered eight to 10 ounces of grains and nine to 10 ounces of meat or meat alternatives. High school students have slightly larger requirements.
But then of course there are specifications on various vegetables, like dark green vegetables versus red or orange vegetables and of course, you can't exceed certain calorie, fat, sodium and trans fat requirements. And, on top of that, at least half of grains must be whole-grain rich and milk must be low fat or fat free."
- Date added:
- Apr 17, 2013
- Project:
- Kids' Safe and Healthful Foods Project
- Topic:
- School Food
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