How school meals compare to new nutrition standards: Baseline findings from snda-IV

Introduction: In January 2012, USDA updated nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to better align the meals with the Dietary Guidelines. The new standards call for increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, reducing levels of saturated fat and sodium, and meeting the dietary needs of children within calorie requirements. The fourth School Nutrition Dietary Assessment study (SNDA-IV), conducted prior to implementation of the new standards, provides important baseline information on how school meals compare to these standards. Methods: Between January and June 2010, foodservice managers in a national sample of schools completed a menu survey to provide detailed information about foods offered in school meals for one week. Reported menu items were linked to the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies and MyPyramid Equivalents Database. The weekly average calorie, nutrient, and USDA Food Pattern food group content of the meals was compared to nutrient and meal pattern requirements for three age/grade groups. Results: Findings include the proportions of schools that served average lunches and breakfasts that fell within new calorie ranges and met the saturated fat standard. The percentage reduction in sodium needed to meet various targets is also presented. Data on amounts of USDA Food Pattern food groups contributed by the meals are compared with meal pattern requirements specified in the new standards. Discussion: These findings serve as an important baseline for assessing schools' progress toward improving the nutritional quality of school meals and, ultimately, the health of our Nation's children.