School Nutrition presentation

Child nutrition report

National school lunch act created in 1946 as “a nutritional safety net”

families that qualify for food stamps automatically qualify for school lunch

plus income qualification from application

reimbursements are entirely from state/federal reimbursement plus food sales

enrollement of 24,368

free 15,894

reduced 1508

71% of the population free/reduced

15,867 lunches served a day of which 13,154 are free

trending upward (up to 72% as of today)

regulations are changing as implementing under the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010

mandatory protein

decreased required fat content

Many of the requirements are already being met

expanded breakfast program at 15 elementary schools: breakfast provided to all students in the classroom (schools with 80% or greater free/reduced eligibility)

all juices citrus or vegetable based

protein from sunflower seeds and soynuts

equals nutritional playing field for all students

specifications on weekly requirements of vegetables; increased consumption

increased accessibility to minimally processed foods

requiring students to take fruits or vegetables

reduction in average sodium content (25% for breakfast and 54% for lunch)

added 6 cents for lunch, but no increase in reimbursement for breakfast

required to raise equity in lunch prices

access to free potable water

Massachusetts: Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages Sold

water for free; milk fat-free or low-fat; n more than 8oz milk; no more than 22g of sugar per 8oz.

USDA fruit and vegetable program in 13 elementary schools during the school day in the classroom

must be uncooked and minimally processed: many are local

Farm-to-School: fruits and vegetables with a preference for locally grown

pilot in kindergarten initiative: 325 K students in 13 classrooms

 specialty crop grant

Monfredo: Bake sales: only at night or after school? under MA guidelines

Lombardi notes that these (and others) are still in debate

Monfredo suggests coming up with options for other rewards (and sales)

O'Connell: asks if we're using state and federal funds to supplement fully paid lunch

Allen: producing the meal for less than we're getting for federal reimbursement

paid meals a very small percentage of total

prices of paid lunches increased this past year due to federal requirement: paid price must equal free and reduced reimbursement

additional resources to improve quality of food

Is there an issue of kids who do not get lunch at all?

will there be kids who do not buy lunch at all?

Boone points out lots of kids bring their lunches

Lombardi: students who bring lunch though they are free eligible

scheduling lunches for maximizing programs

if our prices go up, will there be more kids that don't buy lunch (who would have paid before)?

Novick asks about online payment of school lunches: maybe by the turn of the year (hurrah!)
the trick is not only to get the food served, but to get the kids eating it, which we are successful at
something we do well