Federal Changes to School Lunch Guidelines

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

The Federal Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, told Congress in a letter Friday that the Agriculture Department will do away with daily and weekly limits of meats and grains. Several lawmakers said they are hearing from constituents who say their kids are hungry at school. School Administrators have also complained that maximums on grains and meats are too limiting.
           
The former guidelines were intended to address increasing childhood obesity levels, and set limits on calories and salt, and phase in more whole grains. Schools must offer at least one vegetable or fruit per meal. The department also dictated how much of certain food groups could be served.

The broader calorie limits are still in place, the tweaked rules will now allow school lunch planners to use the new up-dated guidelines. In comments to USDA, many had said grains shouldn't be limited because they are a part of so many meals, and that it was difficult to always find the right size of meat.

Senator Orin Hatch responded to a recent letter written by Food Service Supervisor, Bill Vest, and registered dietician, Grace Phelon. Senator Hatched thanked Nebo Food Services for our support and requests for future changes in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.                                   

Mr. Vest said, “Our goal is to provide nutritious and quality food to students and faculty in Nebo School District with warm “hearts and happy faces”. We would like to thank the parents and students for your participation in our school lunch program.”

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