USDA's School Meal Patterns
The new nutrition standards for school meals are great news for our kids. They will help Watervliet School Nutrition professionals build on the work we are already doing
to provide more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthier entrees in our school cafeterias.
At Watervliet schools, our menus meet the USDA Nutrition Standards and our menus have been certified by Michigan Department of Education.
o We serve a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, and have since 1999
o We do not serve foods with added trans-fat
o We serve 1% white milk and fat free flavored milk only
o Our cold and hot sandwiches are served on whole grain or wheat breads/buns
o Our menus meet the current sodium standards for both breakfast and lunch
o We offer fresh choices salad bars every day with vitamin packed romaine mix lettuce, a variety of other fresh vegetables and fresh and light syrup canned fruits
o We’ve offer more beans and legumes to our menus and encourage the students to try them. most find that they like them!
We know how important it is to encourage students to accept and consume these healthier options. Our school nutrition staff has found great ways to get students excited
about healthy food choices and we’ll continue to work on creative solutions to ensure healthy foods appeal to students.
We make kid favorites more nutritious, such as burgers made with lean meat and served on whole grain buns; chicken nuggets and patties have whole grain breading, our pizzas have whole grain crusts and low-fat cheese. French Fries, when we serve them are baked not fried. Children don’t even realize they are eating healthier
foods!
So what are the USDA Guidelines?
USDA Lunch Regulations 2012
Lunch may consist of 5 items. Students must have 3 items on your tray.
At least one serving of fruit or vegetable must be included as part of the meal – better yet take both!·
Vegetable serving, at least ½ cup
Fruit serving, at least ½ cup
Protein serving
Grain serving
Milk, one serving
Ala Carte prices must be charged if the correct meal components are not on the lunch tray.
We’ll face some challenges to meet all the new requirements on a tight budget, but our school nutrition program will work hard to make these healthy changes for our students.
We hope parents will support this effort by encouraging their students to give the healthier meals a try. Students are far more likely to pick up a fruit or vegetable in the lunch
line if they have been introduced to those foods at home.
So what does a School Lunch Look Like? Click here
As always; feel free to call with any questions you may have about our program.
June Altom, SNS
Director of Food & Nutrition Services
269-463-0799
USDA discrimination statement:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The new nutrition standards for school meals are great news for our kids. They will help Watervliet School Nutrition professionals build on the work we are already doing
to provide more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthier entrees in our school cafeterias.
At Watervliet schools, our menus meet the USDA Nutrition Standards and our menus have been certified by Michigan Department of Education.
o We serve a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, and have since 1999
o We do not serve foods with added trans-fat
o We serve 1% white milk and fat free flavored milk only
o Our cold and hot sandwiches are served on whole grain or wheat breads/buns
o Our menus meet the current sodium standards for both breakfast and lunch
o We offer fresh choices salad bars every day with vitamin packed romaine mix lettuce, a variety of other fresh vegetables and fresh and light syrup canned fruits
o We’ve offer more beans and legumes to our menus and encourage the students to try them. most find that they like them!
We know how important it is to encourage students to accept and consume these healthier options. Our school nutrition staff has found great ways to get students excited
about healthy food choices and we’ll continue to work on creative solutions to ensure healthy foods appeal to students.
We make kid favorites more nutritious, such as burgers made with lean meat and served on whole grain buns; chicken nuggets and patties have whole grain breading, our pizzas have whole grain crusts and low-fat cheese. French Fries, when we serve them are baked not fried. Children don’t even realize they are eating healthier
foods!
So what are the USDA Guidelines?
USDA Lunch Regulations 2012
Lunch may consist of 5 items. Students must have 3 items on your tray.
At least one serving of fruit or vegetable must be included as part of the meal – better yet take both!·
Vegetable serving, at least ½ cup
Fruit serving, at least ½ cup
Protein serving
Grain serving
Milk, one serving
Ala Carte prices must be charged if the correct meal components are not on the lunch tray.
We’ll face some challenges to meet all the new requirements on a tight budget, but our school nutrition program will work hard to make these healthy changes for our students.
We hope parents will support this effort by encouraging their students to give the healthier meals a try. Students are far more likely to pick up a fruit or vegetable in the lunch
line if they have been introduced to those foods at home.
So what does a School Lunch Look Like? Click here
As always; feel free to call with any questions you may have about our program.
June Altom, SNS
Director of Food & Nutrition Services
269-463-0799
USDA discrimination statement:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.