Background: Schools are a promising site for influencing the dietary intake of children and adolescents. The US Department of Agriculture recently released flexibilities to requirements for whole-grains, sodium, and low-fat milk in schools who demonstrated difficulty meeting nutrition standards for school meal programs. The support of School…

The Trump Administration's rollbacks in nutritional standards for school meals have been the subject of much criticism and the basis for a lawsuit. Research into food insecurity and public school meal quality shows that food security and high nutritional standards are essential to any efforts to improve both school equity and student performance.…

Pulses are nutritionally important grain legumes that include dry beans, dry peas, garbanzo beans, and lentils. Schools are required to offer one-half cup pulses per week for each student participating in the National School Lunch Program [NSLP]. A survey of school nutrition directors and nutrition specialists was administered in Washington State…

Purpose/Objectives: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new school meals regulations went into effect in July 2012. The purpose of this research was to explore school nutrition director's (SNDs) perspectives and attitudes about the new regulations and to identify strategies used to prepare for and subsequently implement the regulations.…

The author reports on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plan to look closely at whether the food-service-management companies running many school cafeterias are passing along all the discounts and rebates they receive from their suppliers to the districts that hire them. The plan to probe companies will begin in August, said Alison Decker, a…

Reports on the amount of waste that results from the federal regulations on Type A lunches in elementary schools. (IRT)

Criticizes the federal regulations that encourage waste and cheating in the school lunch program. (IRT)

Effective in September 1983 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires schools to document and verify income information from three percent or 3,000 students approved for subsidized lunches. While there is some flexibility in confirming eligibility, schools must provide evidence of income levels. Outlined are the types of…

Nutrition integrity ensures that all foods available in schools for children are consistent with recommended dietary allowances and contribute to the development of lifelong, healthy eating habits. Attaining nutrition integrity is the goal of numerous changes in National School Lunch and Breakfast Program regulations. Outlines new federal…

The Antioch Unified School District is one of several California schools testing a version of the Nutrient Standard Menu Planning (NSMP) to meet the new rules that require all schools to reduce the fat content of meals. NSMP, presently implemented at the elementary level, has increased flexibility in menu planning and led to better management and…

The impact of the 1977 Department of Agriculture regulations to vary minimum meal portion sizes for children is analyzed as it related to student participation in school lunch programs. (CT)

Details of recent federal regulations regarding child nutrition programs and ways that associations in the educational community can provide leadership and technical assistance in the direction of child nutrition programs. (Author/MLF)

Federal guidelines are detailed and specific as to what data are needed for full-cost accounting by school districts participating in federally funded school food service programs. (Author/MLF)

The universal feeding program makes school lunches free for all students and uses the resultant increase in participation and reduction in paperwork expense to cover the loss in paid meals. In Brownsville, Texas, careful analysis of projected revenues and innovative marketing strategies have made the program a success. (MLF)

Changing the National School Lunch Program to eliminate funding to the full-price meal would affect the entire program, leading to a drastic increase in the price of these meals, a decrease in program participants, and a loss of the health emphasis of the program. (MLF)