The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administrator spoke with ABC13 to explain what school meals will look like for your children this year and as we move forward.
ByNearly 30 million children eat meals at school every day. In Texas, that number sits at just over three million. For more than half of those kids, it's their most nutritious meal of the day.
Over the next few years, nutrition standards for school meals will be gradually updated to include less sodium and added sugar. The changes build on progress made over the last 10 years and also include more flexibility with menu planning. Cindy Long, a deputy undersecretary for USDA's Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, spoke with ABC13 to explain what school meals will look like for your children this year and as we move forward. She said this year is for planning and preparation. Next fall, she said the first thing students will notice is less sugar in popular breakfast foods like flavored milk, cereal, and yogurt.
Long said their goal is to get school meals in line with the USDA's dietary guidelines in a way that all the stakeholders can support. "We spent a year talking to everyone who is impacted: parents, teachers, kids, school nutrition professionals, the industry that sells the food to schools, and we really took in that feedback," Long said. "We really did work hard, and I think we have standards that not only move the needle forward in nutrition, but will also provide delicious meals that schools can realistically serve in schools and that kids will eat.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Drone-Powered Food Delivery Soars in North Texas, Looks To ExpandBy the end of this Q&A, our only question was: Why aren't we doing this already?
Read more »
Texas AG Ken Paxton to work at food bank as part of deal, lawyer saysThe powerful Republican reached a deal in March just weeks before his criminal case on securities fraud charges was set to go to trial.
Read more »
Podcast: DMN food team discusses bucket-list travel, State Fair of Texas and Helen CorbittThe Dallas Morning News’ food team dreamed big on this week’s podcast episode, pondering fantasy trips and what new food items they’re looking forward to at...
Read more »
How our food writer broke the news on Michelin ratings coming to TexasDallas Morning News Executive Editor Katrice Hardy takes readers behind the scenes to explain how food writer Sarah Blaskovich broke the story about Michelin...
Read more »
Texas employee investigated after hundreds of food stamps stolenAccording to reports, a tipster informed the Health and Human Services employee was stealing SNAP card information and selling it on Facebook and Instagram.
Read more »
Biden official touts food program for kids that Texas turned downThe push comes months after Gov. Greg Abbott turned down millions in federal funding to feed more than 3.8 million school children over the summer.
Read more »