- For the first time since the federal government implemented No Child L...
- The Gooding Elementary/Middle School which is nearing 15 years of age ...
- Nineteen students achieved the highest recognition in the Presidential...
- Two school districts in southern Idaho will share the $3,000 second-pl...
- Gooding School District is looking for volunteers. Even an hour a mont...
What to Expect From A School Lunch
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Low-fat milk
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Whole Grain products
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Age appropriate portions and serving sizes
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A variety of fruits and vegatables every day
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Fruit and vegetable bars for all ages
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Choice for students to pick from at each meal
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Salad bars
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Healthier versions of: pizza, chicken nuggets, hamburgers
School meals are appealing to children and taste good!
There have been huge advances in variety of flavor of school meal. Chefs and cooks at schools are providing meals that are not only nutritious, but also taste great. Schools are using quality products and stay up to date with food trends to satisfy their customers.
The Parents Role:
School lunches must meet federal nutrition requirements, but decisions about what to eat is left up to the students. Most schools offer a variety of choices for students to pick from at meal times. Parents should discuss these choices with their children and encourage the healthy decisions. The fact that fruits and vegetables are being served with the school meal is no guarantee that children are eating them. Parents are welcome to eat a meal with their children at most schools. It is important for parents to go to the school and find out first hand what the choices are.
Myth's and Facts
Myth
Schools serve fried, greasy foods and "junk food" as meals.
Fact
Schools may serve french fries, chicken nuggets or pizza at times. However, the foods are baked, not fried and made with low-fat or lean ingredients.
Pizza on school menus is not the same as the delivery pizza. Even if it is the same brand name as the delivery place in town it may be quite different. The dimensions of slices may be smaller; it may include whole-grain flour in the crust, and low-fat cheese and meat toppings. Also, note that school lunches are served with fruits and vegetables.
Myth
Value of meals off-campuss is a better buy for the buck than the school meal.
Fact
Open campuses offer students the ability to purchase food at local restaurants and businesses. Students now have a greater purchasing power than ever before. The heat is on for school nutrition professionals to deliver plate appeal that attracts more customers.
Cost-wise school meals win out. The average school lunch is $1.78 while the lowest cost of a fast food meal of hamburger, fries and a soda is $3.15 or so. Schools are increasingly using fresh, attractive ingredients adn offering fresh fruits and vegetables, a salad bar or pre-packaged salads. These meals contain more nutrition for the money.
Myth
Schools receive low-quality, high fat, processed government commodities.
Fact
USDA currently offers:
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60 types of fresh fruit and vegetables, canned fruit packed in light syrup, water or natural juices.
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Beef patties with only 10% gat, 97% fat free ham, 95% fat-free turkey ham, and turkey taco filling.
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Reduced fat cheese
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Whole grain foods: brown rice, rolled oats, whole wheat flour and pastas.
Myth
School nutrition programs are responsible for all food on school campus.
Fact
While school meals must meet federal nutrition standards, other foods in schools are not required to meet these standards. Many school nutrition professionals have no control over most food and beverages offered outside the cafeteria.
Myth
Sack lunches from home are healthier than school meals.
Fact
Research has shown that school lunches contain three times as many dairy products, twice as much fruitt and seven times the vegetables as lunches brought from home.
Mission: Gooding School District's Mission is to a adopt a comprehensive curriculum on health, fitness and nutrition consistent with the state's essential learning requirements.
Goal: The primary goal of the District Wellness Policy is to promote, encourage, and support a healthy lifestyle and Healthy School Environment.