USDA Lunches

BY ARIEL MOORE [lead writer]

The USDA is currently in the process of re-evaluating the food pyramid and the quality of the food supplied throughout the country.

According to the USDA, on Feb. 6, 2023, Food Nutrition and Service held a stakeholder briefing that outlines the changes to the proposed rule, entitled “Child Nutrition Programs:

Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent

With the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” which creates the school nutrition standards. This proposed rule is the next step in an ongoing effort toward strengthening school meals, advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security and ensuring school meals continue to provide the very best

Not only will there be a focus on the nutritional intake of all students as a whole, there will also be a focus on children with food insecurity. By ensuring kids have economic and physical access to food, they will be able to eat a balanced diet which can help combat the risk of them developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, according to Mary Fox who writes for Nutrients, which is an academic journal for human nutrition.

Sugar, cholesterol and sodium intake is a huge focus in the new guidelines because many kids in school systems across the country ingest an excess amount of these harmful substances. With these new developments, students in the coming years will have access to more nutritious foods to aid with their development.

As for CPHS, we have already met the current standards. Most, if not all, of our starches are already whole grain, which makes room for improvements in the upcoming years. “Proposals are in the works for the school year 2526,” Food Service Director for CPHS Pamela Maloney said.