In a story posted this week in LocalHealthGuide, parents can learn about new federal requirements for school meals and more about what is being done in local school districts to incorporate healthy eating into the school day.
This fall, meals offered by all school districts in King County will include more variety and servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition, portion sizes will be adjusted to ensure the calorie content of meals are appropriate for the age of the children being served.
The changes will fulfill new federal requirements for school meals issued earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the new rules, menus will be designed to reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium. For example, students will be offered only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties and will be required to take a half of a cup of fruit or vegetable for a complete meal.
To learn more about what's on school menus in Seattle visit the Seattle Public Schools Nutrition Services page.
Interested in packing school lunches yourself? Check out these tips for packing healthy school lunches, and also a few suggestions for keeping it interesting!
