School Lunches—Room for Improvement - Brief Article

Vegetarian Journal, Sept, 2001 by Reed Mangels

In 1995, USDA's School Lunch program implemented new nutrition standards that included goals for fat (30% or fewer of calories) and saturated fat (10% or fewer of calories). These new standards joined existing goals of providing one-third of the students' daily needs for calories and nutrients like protein, iron, and calcium. In 1998-1999, the USDA examined whether or not school lunches were meeting goals. Here's what they found:

   [frown] Lunches in elementary schools provided, on average, 33% of calories
      as fat, while secondary school lunches provided 34.5% of calories as
      fat.

   [frown] One in 5 elementary schools met the goal for fat, 1 in 7 for
      secondary schools.

This does not meet the goal of 30% or fewer calories from fat. Saturated fat represented about 12% of total calories (goal is 10% or less).

On a more positive note:

   [smiley] School lunch alone provides 100% of the protein needs of children
      in elementary schools, and 64% of needs of secondary school students.

   [smiley] School lunch provides significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C,
      calcium, and iron.

Now, if there were only more vegetarian options....

The School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study--II: Summary of Findings. January 2001. <www.fns.usda. gov/oane/MENU/Published/CNP/FILES/SNDAII findsum.htm>.