School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates public school food service’s national health responsibility to provide nutritionally balanced and economically priced meals consistent with the most current Dietary Guidelines of Americans. Recently, new federal regulations have been established for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program as mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

National School Lunch Program

Component Based Menu Planning System
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates public school food service’s national health responsibility to provide nutritionally balanced and economically priced meals consistent with the most current Dietary Guidelines of Americans. Recently, new federal regulations have been established for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program as mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

Grade Specific Standards are Established for:
Calories
Sodium
Saturated fat
Trans fat

Established Grade Groups:
The meal pattern is divided into three age/grade groups:

• Grades K-5 (ages 5-10)
• Grades 6-8 (ages 11-13)
• Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)

Component Standards

Component Standard Chart
Weekly Range (Daily Minimum)

	Grade K-5	Grade 6-8	Grade 9-12
Fruit (cups)	2.5 (.5)	2.5 (.5)	5 (1)
Vegetables (cups)	3.75 (.75)	3.75 (.75)	5 (1)
Grains (oz. eq.)	8-9 (1)	8-10 (1)	10-12 (2)
Meat / meat alternative (oz. eg.)	8-10 (1)	9-10 (1)	10-12 (2)
Milk (cups)	5 (1)	5 (1)	5 (1)

Nutrient Standards

Nutrient Standard Chart

	Grade K-5	Grade 6-8	Grade 9-12
Min-Max Calories (per week)	550-650	600-700	750-850
Saturated Fat (% of total calories)	<10	<10	<10
Sodium (mg)	<640	<710	<740
Trans Fat	Nutrition label specification must indicate zero grams of trans fat per serving

School Breakfast Program

Traditional Food-Based Menu Planning System
MISD currently uses the Traditional Food-Based Menu Planning System for breakfast. Effective July 1, 2013, breakfast menus will be required to follow the Component Based Menu Planning System.

Age/Grade Specific Standards Established for:
Calories
Total Fat
Total saturated fat
Protein
Calcium
Iron
Vitamin A
Vitamin C

Established Age/Grade Groups:
Age 2
Age 3-5
Grades K-12

Nutrient Standard Chart

	Age 2	Age 3-5	Grades K-12
Calories	325	388	554
Total Fat (% of calories)	3	3	3, 4
Total Saturated Fat (% of calories)	3	3	3, 5
Protein (grams)	4	5	10
Calcium (milligrams)	200	200	257
Iron (milligrams)	2.5	2.5	3.0
Vitamin A (Retinol Equivalents)	100	113	197
Vitamin C (milligrams)	10	11	13