Below is information provided by the Iowa Department of Education highlighting changes in the food service requirements in Iowa schools:
- Healthy school meals are a critical investment in our children’s health and the future success of our nation. The previous school meal standards were developed 15 years ago and did not meet current nutritional guidelines.
- School meals should offer the healthiest meals possible and not contribute to health issues or drive up costs for Americans. The new standards ensure that children have the energy they need to learn in class and be physically active, while reducing their risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other serious chronic diseases.
- Based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). Calorie levels can’t be viewed without context, while the new calorie levels may be either lower or comparable to the previous minimum calorie standards, the new school meals portions are "right sized" to reflect the proper balance between food groups.
- The new school meals offer more fruits and vegetables at lunch than the previous meal pattern, and the amount of fruits will double at breakfast beginning school year 2014/15. Whole grains are also increased substantially.
- In practice, many students are being served the same amounts of protein under the new standards. For some age groups, the old standards permitted more than adequate amounts of meat/meat alternate to meet the nutritional (protein and iron) needs of children and adolescents. The new standards ensure that the requirements for meat/meat alternates for each age group are in line with current nutrition science.
- The new school meals are designed to meet only a portion of a child's nutritional needs over the course of the school day.
- Schools and families have options to help meet the needs of highly active students who may need additional calories, such as athletes. Schools have no limit on making available second helpings of fruits and vegetables, and depending on how close they are to the calorie limits, a second carton of milk may be an option. Schools can also structure after-school snack and supper programs to include service to athletes. In addition, individual students and/or sports teams can also supplement food provided through Federal programs with items provided from home or other sources.
