Healthy Schools Program Criteria for School Meals

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Healthy Schools ProgramCriteria for School Meals

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Why School Meals?

• SHEER VOLUME
• More than 30 million students eat school
  breakfast and lunch each day
• NUTRITION UP ACADEMICS UP
• Research supports the value of school nutrition
  programs showing that school meals are
  multi-dimensional tools to support academic
  achievement, fight hunger and combat childhood
  obesity.

USDA Photo by Ken Hammond
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Why are School Meals Important?

• SCHOOL MEALS UP NUTRIENTS UP
• Students that eat meals at school consume more
  nutrients, intake a lesser amount of sugars, and
  are more likely to consume vegetables and milk
  products. 1
• NUTRITION UP PERFORMANCE UP
• Studies show that nutrition impacts the behavior
  of children, their school performance, and their
  ability to concentrate and perform complex
  tasks.2
• 1 Fox, M.K., Crepinek, M.K, Connor, P. and
  Battaglia, M., School Nutrition Dietary
  Assessment Study-II. Final report submitted to
  the U.S. USDA of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
  Service, Cambridge, MA, Abt Associates, Inc.,
  January 2001.
• 2 Tufts University, Center on Hunger, Poverty,
  and Nutrition Policy, Statement on the Link
  between Nutrition and Cognitive Development in
  Children, Medford, MA 1994.

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Science-Based Criteria

• For school Breakfast and Lunch
• Enhances the USDA nutrition requirements for
  school meals
• Brings school nutrition programs more in line
  with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
• Emphasizes adequate nutrition without excessive
  intake, reducing saturated and trans-fats and
  making room for more fruits, vegetables, whole
  grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein
• Vetted through rigorous scientific review by
  national field experts

USDA Photo by Ken Hammond
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Bronze
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Silver
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Gold
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School Implementation

• Site Visits/Phone Consultation/E-mail inquiries
• School Meals Tool Kit
• Case Studies
• Print Resources
• The Alliance Supports School Meals
• Why School Meals?
• FAQ on School Meals
• School Meals Treasure Chest

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School Meal Industry Agreements

• Working with food manufacturers to create or
  reformulate more healthful food options for the
  K-12 school food market
• non-fried poultry, potatoes and fish whole grain
  breakfast options
• low sugar breakfast cereals dried or
  freeze-dried fruit options
• Collaborating with food distributors to make the
  more healthful products regularly available to
  schools

• Coordinating with food service
  management companies on aligning their offerings
  with the Alliance for a Healthier Generations
  school meals criteria and competitive food and
  beverage guidelines

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Summary

• Changes in your School Meal Programs
• is possible
• takes time
• yield dynamic results
• School Meals
• Fuel for our students.
• Fuel for our future leaders.

USDA Photo by Ken Hammond