District News
USDA unveils new school nutrition standards
Seattle Public Schools already meeting many school lunch requirements
Standards aimed at reducing obesity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled new school nutrition standards Jan. 25, aimed at reducing childhood obesity. Seattle Public Schools is already in line with many of the new standards.
“Seattle has been very progressive with changing the way we offer meals, offering fruits and vegetables every day, as well as whole grain-rich foods,” said Wendy Weyer, Director of Nutrition Services for Seattle Public Schools. “There is a new requirement that we only offer fat-free or low-fat milk varieties, which we are already doing in Seattle.”
Standards begin in 2012-13 school year
The new meal requirements are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act led by first lady Michelle Obama. President Barack Obama approved the measure in 2011. The new guidelines include offering fruits and vegetables every day and substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods, the USDA statement said. The new standards will be phased in over a three-year period, starting in the 2012-13 school year.
“During the first year of the three-year adoption, I do not see many changes for us. The biggest challenge in the longer-term targets will be looking at how to reduce sodium content, while keeping the meals palatable for our students,” Weyer said.
The District anticipates a cost increase to meet the new standards, which include the mandate that schools must place a fruit or a vegetable on every tray, whether the student wants it or not. Right now, students can choose to take a fruit or vegetable.
As part of the new federal standards, schools will receive additional federal funding of 6 cents a meal, for lunch only. (Seattle Public Schools receives federal funding of $2.79 for every lunch served to a student eligible for a free lunch, $2.39 for a reduced-price lunch and 28 cents for a full-price lunch.)
“These new requirements will likely increase costs, and we need to determine to what extent the new 6-cents-a-meal addition will supplement the requirements,” Weyer said. “But we agree with the importance of exposing students to these healthy foods, and hopefully having them on their trays will encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables."
About nutrition services at Seattle Public Schools:
• Our goal for nutrition at Seattle Public Schools is to offer students a variety of quality, nutritious meals in a timely, cost-effective manner.
• 19,600 lunches served a day
• 7,400 breakfasts served a day
Current initiatives include:
Enhancing our relationships with local farmers and buying local fruits and vegetables, developing additional fresh (from scratch) “student approved” recipes, linking school gardens to the school cafeteria and connecting experimental learning with the nutritious foods we offer for lunch and breakfast.