Learn about the National School Lunch Program in Wills Point ISD!

1. National School Lunch Week
October 14-18, 2013
Wills Point ISD
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

2. Agenda
• The facts about school meals
• National School Lunch Week
• “School Lunch Across the USA”
• How to get involved
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

3. School Lunch
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
•31 million children served daily
•95% of schools participate in NSLP
Our district’s Lunch Program
•Over 1700 students are served through
the Wills Point ISD Free/Reduced School
Lunch Program
•69% of students participate in NSLP
•4783 lunches served in September
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

4. The Facts
School lunches always include:
Milk – Lowfat or fat free
Vegetables – From jicama to fresh carrots
Fruit – Everything from kiwi to fresh apple slices
Grains – Whole grains in bread, pasta, and pizza crust
Protein – lean meats and beans
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

5. The Facts
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Fresh fruits and veggies
Whole grains
Reduced/zero TransFats
Salads/salad bars
Lowfat dairy
Baked items rather than fried
Healthy cooking and prep
techniques
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

6. The Facts
School meals help students to do better in school!
•Research has shown that students who eat school meals
perform their best academically.
•Healthy eating correlates with less trips to the school
nurse and less absenteeism.
•Providing nutritious school breakfast on testing days –
and every school day - leads to improved test scores.
*Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

7. The Facts
What about the childhood obesity crisis?
•There is no evidence that either the school breakfast or
lunch program is contributing to rising rates of childhood
obesity.
•Children who eat school lunch are more likely to consume
milk, fruit & veggies and less likely to consume desserts and
snack items than children who do not. *
•Students are less likely to gain weight during the school
year when in school than during the summer when school is
out.
*Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, February 2009
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

8. New Standards for
School Meals
The USDA’s nutrition standards for schools meals
have changed:
Students are offered both fruits and vegetables
daily
•Increased offering of whole grains
•Only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties
•Calories limited based on the age of children
being served
•Reduced saturated fat, trans fats
and sodium
•
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

9. What is National School
Lunch Week?
• Annual celebration of the National School Lunch Program
(NSLP), using a fun theme
• Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962
• It provides the opportunity to highlight the important,
positive role of school lunch nationwide
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

10. What is National School
Lunch Week?
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

11. “Across the USA” in 2013
The 2013 NSLW theme, “School Lunch Across the USA”,
The 2013 NSLW theme, “School Lunch Across the USA”,
celebrates the regional culture and dishes from across the
celebrates the regional culture and dishes from across the
country
country
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

12. What’s New on Our Menu
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

13. What’s New on Our Menu
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

14. Getting Involved
•
Teachers and Administrators can:
Visit the cafeteria during lunch
•
Encourage the school nutrition director to make
presentations about the benefits of a healthy
lifestyle at PTA meetings and in the classroom
•
Talk about “School Lunch Across the USA” during
assembly
•
Making cooking techniques or healthy eating
topics part of the curriculum
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

15. Getting Involved
Parents can:
• Parents and school nutrition professionals share the
same goals:
Well-balanced nutritious meals for their kids
Creating healthy eating habits for life
• Visit the cafeteria and have lunch with your child
• Encourage healthy eating and lifestyles at home for you
and your kids (actions speak louder than words!)
• Create a “Across the USA” night at PTO or PTAs
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

16. Thanks for Your Time!
Learn about National School Lunch Week:
www.schoolnutrition.org/nslw
Get the facts about school meals:
www.traytalk.org
Take Your Parents to Lunch Day:
www.myhealthyschool.com
Copyright 2013 School Nutrition Association. All rights reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org