SHIP School Lunch Menu Moving Forward

National School Lunch Program What is It?  It’s a federally assisted meal program funded by the United States department of Agriculture.  It was established as a measure of national security to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children.”

National School Lunch Program What is It?  It provides nutritionally balanced low cost or free meals  Participating schools get cash reimbursements for every qualified meal

National School Lunch Program What is It?  Qualified meals must meet specific standards  Those standards are being updated for the first time in over 40 years

National School Lunch Program What is It? Reimbursement for 2011 Free - $2.77 Reduce - $2.37 Paid - $0.26 This must cover food, labor, benefits, equipment, utilities maintenance, supplies, uniforms, etc.

National School Lunch Program What is It? The Minnesota Department of Education is solely responsible for ensuring menu compliance and providing assistance for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program

School Lunch To defray rising food costs, many schools depend on revenues generated by selling foods that compete with the NSLP meals even though such foods have been found to:  contribute to overconsumption of calories  increased plate waste of the reimbursable meals  decrease intakes of recommended nutrients

School Lunch Foods sold along side the National School Lunch Program meals are called Competitive Foods

Are sold on the lunch line or in the vicinity of the cafeteria at the same time the NSLP meals are served and include: Vending Machines School Stores Fundraising Concessions Competitive Foods

Sobering Facts Students eating competitive foods during lunch consume 150 more calories a day than students eating meals offered in the National School Lunch Program Journal of the American Dietetic Association (supplement) 109 (2S), pp. S57-S66

Competitive Foods Sobering Facts Competitive foods tend to be high in fat, sodium, and added sugar and low in nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins A & C Journal of the American Dietetic Association (supplement) 109 (2S), pp. S57-S66

Competitive Foods Sobering Facts 80% of high schools have vending machine options during the meal service. Journal of the American Dietetic Association (supplement) 109 (2S), pp. S57-S66

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program must ensure that these items are never competing with the reimbursable USDA meals:

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value Very specific USDA List  Carbonated drinks  Chewing gum  Water Ices  Certain Candies (hard, jellies, cotton, marshmallows, fondants, licorice, or sweetened popcorn)

Continuing Partnerships SHIP funds will NOT be able to support the school menu strategy

Menu of Strategies Table: 1:1 - School: Healthy Food Environment Healthy Food Environment Strategies Outcomes Select at least one of the strategies below. 1. Healthy school food options outside of the USDA reimbursable school meal program (includes a la carte options offered during school meal service that are also known as competitive foods, snack carts, school stores, concessions, vending machines, food rewards, food as fundraisers, food at celebrations and parties) 2. Farm to school 1. Healthy school food (outside of the USDA reimbursable school meals program) guidelines adopted and implemented. 2. Farm to school practices implemented and policy adopted. SHIP Guides to Implementation and Evaluation

Moving Forward What Can SHIP Support?

USDA USDA information on the National School Lunch Program

Terri Swartout SHIP School Coordinator, Education Specialist Donna McDuffie MPH, CPH, RD, LN State Nutrition Coordinator