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Programs & Services : School Nutrition : School Nutrition Programs

PROGRAMS & SERVICES:
CHILD NUTRITION:
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

   
 
New Meal Pattern Requirements Effective July 1, 2012
Effective July 1, 2012, all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program must meet the requirements of the new meal pattern. Starting this fall, school lunches are required to meet additional standards requiring:
  • Larger servings of vegetables and fruits, with students required to take a serving;
  • wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red/orange vegetables and legumes, many of which may be purchased locally;
  • Fat-free or 1% milk, fat-free flavored milk;
  • More whole grains;
  • Age-appropriate calorie limits;
  • And less sodium.

UPDATE:
USDA announces (Memo SP 11-2013) flexibility in meeting the weekly maximums for grains and meat/meat alternates.

   
   
WATCH FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA'S BACK TO SCHOOL MESSAGE
   
 
   
  The new meal requirements are raising standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improving the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier school meals are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let’s Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama. The full press release from the USDA is available online.
   
   
OVERVIEW
   
 

There are two programs available to support meals and snacks in public as well as private non-profit schools:

The National School Lunch Program
This program, which has been in existence since 1946, provides reimbursement for lunches served to students enrolled in twelfth grade and under in public and private, non-profit schools. Reimbursement is provided at three levels: free, reduced price, and full price (or paid). Families may submit applications to receive free or reduced price meal benefits.

Because the program is a federal entitlement program, meaning that the government guarantees that all program meals properly claimed for reimbursement each month will be reimbursed, there are extensive regulations governing most aspects of program operations in order to assure that meals claimed for reimbursement are truly eligible for payment. At the federal level the program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In addition to federal reimbursement schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program also receive a State Match payment once a year and receive federally-provided commodity foods as well. In general, these commodities represent 10-12% of foods used in school meals programs. The remainder are purchased through regular supply channels.

In Vermont, the state legislature passed Act 22 in 2003 which requires that public schools participate in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program unless the school board, at an annual or regularly warned meeting, holds a public discussion of the program and subsequently votes to exempt the district from the requirement.

The School Breakfast Program
This program, which has been in existence since the mid-1960’s, provides reimbursement for breakfasts served to students in twelfth grade or under in public and private, non-profit schools. Reimbursement is provided at three levels: free, reduced price, and full price (or paid). Families may submit applications to receive free or reduced price meal benefits. Families do not have to submit separate applications for free school lunch and breakfast.

In addition to federal reimbursements, schools that participate in the School Breakfast Program receive a State Match payment once a year.
   
   
COMMUNICATIONS TO THE FIELD
   
 
   
   
LINKS TO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION
   
 

Use the following links for school nutrition information related to:
   
CONTACT INFORMATION
   
 

Laurie Colgan
(802) 828-5153 (P)
(802) 828-0573 (F)
laurie.colgan@state.vt.us

Nancy Lewis, Education Consultant
(802) 828-5155 (P)
(802) 828-0573 (F)
nancy.lewis@state.vt.us

Brooke Gannon, Child Nutrition Consultant
(802) 828-5152 (P)
(802) 828-0573 (F)
brooke.gannon@state.vt.us
     
   
 
   
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