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“We applaud USDA for taking this important step to ensure that all foods and beverages sold in schools, including snacks, meet minimal nutrition standards. This is the kind of positive change we need to help reduce obesity rates among children and teens, which are now more than triple what they were four decades ago.
“Millions of students currently have widespread access to snacks and beverages that are high in sugar, fat and salt. When fully implemented, the standards USDA has proposed today will help provide kids with healthier snack foods and beverages in a la carte lines, vending machines and school stores.
“With many students consuming up to half of their daily calories at school, these guidelines could make a real difference in the health of our nation’s kids. Now it’s up to us—parents, teachers, pediatricians and everyone who cares about children’s health—to tell USDA that we support efforts to provide students with healthy snacks and drinks. That requires a strong final rule.”
BACKGROUND: USDA has opened a 60-day comment period during which nutrition experts, school leaders, parents and other members of the general public are invited to review the proposed nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages and submit comments. This proposed rule complements USDA’s standards for school meals, which took effect this school year. Comments may be provided online at www.regulations.gov.
What are healthy snacks? | What is the cost to schools? | Do Americans want healthy snacks in schools? | How does my state rank? |
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"All over the region, little pockets of activity are coalescing into a collaborative Food Revolution a la Jamie Oliver, the British chef who champions healthier food in schools and elsewhere. Last fall at the One Young World conference held here, he challenged Pittsburgh to revamp its eating habits -- and Pittsburgh's delegates took him seriously."
More info"With childhood obesity — and other health issues and nutrition requirements — increasing in schools, Williamsburg-James City County is focusing on providing nutritious meals to students."
More info"Representatives from National Food Group handed out samples of what could be on next year’s menu. Students sampled beef barbacoa with roasted vegetables, whole grain cheese ravioli with chunky marinara sauce and baked cod filet. Other items were cranberry oatmeal bars and breakfast items oatmeal chocolate vertical bars and berry apple crisp vertical bar."
More info"The Pew Charitable Trust recently issued a statement recognizing this as a significant step to help children nationwide. The School Food Modernization Act would help schools improve their meal programs in two ways. One part of the legislation would authorize a USDA competitive grant program through which schools could obtain training and technical assistance for foodservice employees."
More infoJessica Donze Black, director of the Pew Kids' Safe & Healthful Foods Project, speaks with Education Week about a bipartisan bill that would provide money for school kitchen upgrades.
More infoJessica Donze Black, project director for Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, is featured in Time magazine article about healthy school lunches.
More info"Recent changes to the federal school lunch program require more fresh fruits and vegetables to be served, but many schools in Iowa and across the country lack the fridge space needed to store large quantities of fresh produce, the Republican lawmaker said."
More infoJessica Donze Black, Pew’s expert on childhood nutrition, issued the following statement on the School Food Modernization Act.
More info"The USDA is updating the existing nutritional food standards set in 1979, which will require all snack foods sold in public schools to meet new health standards."
More info"Marty Tatara has succeeded with 'Six Cent For Child' certification, which will increase federal funding for nutrition in Madison City Schools."
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."
More info"High school students don't need to have access to caffeine on campus. Snacks sold at elementary and middle schools shouldn't have as many calories as those sold at high schools. And maybe schools shouldn't have vending machines or a la carte lunch lines at all."
More infoIn the absence of a national policy, school snack food standards vary by state. Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, speaks with The Washington Post about this issue.
More infoCopyright(c) 1996-2012 The Pew Charitable Trusts. All Rights Reserved.
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.jpg "Video: Giving Kids Healthy Foods in Schools")
