April 25, 2024
Leading children to success. That’s what every parent, guardian, and educator wants for our nation’s schoolchildren. They understand the power of small changes to make big changes in the learning environment. That’s why USDA recently announced a generational investment in the future of children through updated school nutrition standards.
Today, our nation’s schools serve breakfast and lunch to approximately 30 million children every day. Healthy school meals are the primary source of nutrition for more than half of these students and are as important a part of the educational environment as teachers, books and computers, helping children reach their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom. It will help you bring it out.
It’s no surprise that nutritional deficiencies and diet-related illnesses are correlated with lower academic performance, poorer health, and more behavioral problems in children. We recognize that educators and school nutrition professionals work hard every day to ensure children thrive. Healthy school meals are an essential part of quality education and part of the solution to improving children’s health. We know this journey will not be easy. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments to help schools provide healthy, nutritious meals to students.
School breakfast is a great start to the day. It sets the tone for the rest of the day, especially for kids. That’s why children who eat breakfast are more alert, feel better throughout the morning, and promote better learning experiences. Additionally, studies have shown that students who participate in school lunch programs eat more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables during their meals and have better overall diet quality.
These important updates we are making to the School Nutrition Standards are shaped by many stakeholders, including parents, dedicated teachers, school administrators, school nutrition directors, and industry leaders. , based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
These new standards allow us to take the next step in putting children’s health at the forefront by:
- Reduce the amount of added sugar in school meals, especially breakfast.
- It’s easier to get healthy protein at breakfast.
- Reduces sodium levels over time.
- Continue to emphasize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to give children the right balance of nutrients for a healthy and delicious diet.
That’s not all. We also offer flexibility so that schools can easily accommodate vegetarian meals and students’ cultural and religious food preferences. This way, all children will have access to the nutritious foods they desire to nourish their bodies and minds.
We encourage educators to promote these school meal enhancements as an opportunity to maximize the impact of what they do best: education. Because our commitment to inspiration is what allows all students to thrive.
Our country could not be more grateful for that important gift.
For more information on the latest school nutrition standards, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
