This month marked an important step forward for the health and well-being of our nation’s youngsters. USDA announced changes to improve the quality of school lunches that are served to 32 million American children each day. This will help them learn and better prepare them for the jobs of the 21st century.
These new standards – based on the most up-to-date science – will make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home:
They’ll make sure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week – and increase opportunities to eat whole grains. They’ll substantially reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans-fats and salt in meals. And they’ll ensure appropriate portion size, limiting calories based on how old a child is. To drink, kids will be offered fat-free or low-fat milk.
