#ad This is a sponsored conversation as part of my partnership with the School Nutrition Association.
Did you see the article in the Parade Magazine this Sunday?
While much of it dealt with Michelle Obama’s next steps as First Lady, a large portion discussed her initiative regarding childhood obesity and specifically school lunch standards.
I talked about my experience at the School Nutrition Association’s National Conference, specifically talking with two school nutritionists and their dedication to feeding kiddos a healthy lunch.
But it seems like there is still so much miss communication in regards to the national standards schools are required to meet for lunch and breakfast.
- By 2014 – 2015 school year, all grains served must be whole grain. And now, at least half of all grains served at school lunch must be whole grain rich.
- No more than 10% of the calories in a lunch can come from saturated fat.
- Schools are required to give kiddos at least one fruit or vegetable per meal and they must offer an assortment of dark green, orange/red and legumes per week. In most cases, schools are giving two servings of fruits and vegetables per meal.
With the new rules and standards, it’s hard to keep it all straight, which is why TrayTalk.org was established.
TrayTalk is a website dedicated to providing parents a way to gain information about school meals and offer tips/tricks on how to get involved in local school nutrition programs. (Like including locally grown produce as part of the rotation in school lunches…which I think is brilliant.) They have an awesome Frequently Asked Questions Page too.
I’m a believer in the principal that you can not complain about a system, unless you become educated about it and are willing to work to change it. Get connected with the school nutrition discussion on Tray Talks Facebook Page, Twitter, or Pinterest Page.
