1 Golden Bomber Dr.
Ilion, NY 13357
Phone: 315.894.9934
Fax: 315.894.2716
Superintendent
Look for big changes in school lunches this fall
Menus will feature fruits and vegetables every day plus whole-grain rich foods
When students step into the school cafeteria this September, they will discover a new look on their lunch trays—less fatty foods and more fruits and vegetables, only fat-free and low-fat milk, and more whole grains. The changes are part of the new national standard for school meals under the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act designed to combat childhood obesity and to encourage healthy eating habits in children.
A Healthy Change
To meet the new standards, Ilion CSD will double the amount of fruits and vegetables we serve, offer specific categories of vegetables weekly (leafy green, orange/red, legumes, and beans), and include more whole grain products such as whole wheat bread and pasta. The standards also limit the quantity of starchy vegetables, (think tater tots and canned corn) schools can offer throughout the week.
For the 2012-13 school year, a typical lunch may include a chef salad with leafy green lettuce served with low-fat mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, and a whole-wheat roll; oven-baked sweet potato fries; fresh kiwi halves; raw vegetables (such as broccoli or cherry tomatoes); and non-fat (or 1-percent) milk or water. Click here for a look at a new school lunch and how it compares to a typical lunch last year.
The regulations also put calorie caps on lunches based on grade levels. Maximum calories per served lunch are: 650 calories for grades K-5; 700 calories for grades 6-8; and 850 calories for grades 9-12.
Other important changes include:
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Whole-grain bread, pasta, tortillas and rice instead of white and refined starches;
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Low-fat or fat-free milk, including chocolate;
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Less saturated fats (fatty meats, ice cream, whole milk cheese, etc.), trans fats (found in commercial baked goods and fried foods such as French fries) and sodium (salt); and
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Greater choice of healthy options.
The changes take officially take effect in September, but district food service director Barbara Cristman began experimenting with the menus last spring.
“We knew that were going to have to meet the standards this fall, so we decided to trial some new menu items,” said Mrs. Cristman.
“By the end of the school year, we were already serving whole wheat breads and rolls and were giving students a taste of some new fruits and vegetables.”
The new lunch guidelines are just the first steps in a three-year plan to phase-in the new standards. Changes to breakfast meals and snacks served in school will happen over the next two years.
First Lady Michelle Obama is promoting the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act as part of her “Let’s Move!” health and wellness campaign.
