National School Lunch Program

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The recent changes to the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have had a significant impact on the nutritional and health status of public and non-profit private schools in the state of Maryland, with the hope of fighting childhood obesity and hunger. The federal and state government, along with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued regulations and guidelines to improve healthier eating in the United States school system. The economic situation of the state of Maryland is an issue related with the recent change in the school lunch and breakfast programs. The government increased 6 cents per meal reimbursement for the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, if the participants…show more content…
Mrs. Obama stated, "We have a right to expect the food (our kids) get at school is the same kind of food we want to serve at our own kitchen tables." Most of the children that participate in these programs eat more than half of their daily food intake at school. Offering a higher quality of food and better choices that are more nutritious improve children’s diets. (CBS, 2012) The First Lady and the USDA took charge with Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act by reducing starchy foods like potatoes and prohibiting schools from counting a small amount of tomato paste on a slice of pizza as a vegetable. Before they counted as 1 whole serving of vegetables. Researchers at Cornell University's Center for Behavioral Economics did a study that influenced children to make healthier choices when picking food from the lunch line. These influences were things like, “attractive or fun names” for vegetables and using verbal cues for offering fruit in elementary schools. Cornell also created “smarter lunchroom” strategies that the USDA had incorporated into the guidelines for school cafeterias. The strategies from this project are to increase the “convenience and attractiveness of the fruits and vegetables offered” in a visual aspect. Salads are being displayed in clear containers and fruit is being placed in multiple areas along the lunch line to encourage…show more content…
National School Lunch Program & School Breakfast Program (Fact Sheets). Downloaded from: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ USDA (2013). Eligibility Manual for School Meals, Determining and Verifying Eligibility. Downloaded from: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ USDA (Joanne Guthrie and Constance Newman, September 3, 2013). Eating Better at School: Can New Policies Improve Children’s Food Choices? Downloaded from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/ USDA (Kenneth Hanson and Victor Oliveira, September 2012). How Economic Conditions Affect Participation in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs. Downloaded from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/ CBS New Staff (January 25, 2012). School Lunches get Healthy Makeover from USDA and First Lady. Downloaded from: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/school-lunches-get-healthy-makeover-from-usda-and-first-lady/ The Journal of Nutrition (Eileen Kennedy and Edward Cooney). Development of the Child Nutrition Programs in the United States. Downloaded from: http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/2/431S.full Maryland Department of Agricultural. Farm to School. Downloaded from:

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