"Improving the nutrition of school meals is an important investment in the future of America's children," said Concannon. "We know that healthy food plays a vital role in strengthening a child's body and mind and the healthier school meals will help to ensure our children can learn, grow, and reach their full potential."
Starting this school year, schools will phase in the nutrition standards over a three-year period. Schools will focus on changes in the lunches in the first year, with most changes in breakfast to take place in future years. The new meal standards:
- Ensure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
- Substantially increase offerings of whole grain-rich foods and low-fat milk or fat-free milk varieties;
- Limit calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and
- Focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.
Watch a special back to school welcome video from First Lady Michelle Obama.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including school meals programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs. To learn about the meal standards, go to www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday.
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