The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the temporary guidelines that allow schools to serve larger portions of lean protein and whole grains under the National School Lunch Program will be made permanent.
According to Agri-Pulse, the USDA issued more flexible guidelines in December 2012 after receiving criticism from schools, food providers, state governments and lawmakers on the difficult and costly changes to keep children full under the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.
“Earlier this school year, the USDA made a commitment to school nutrition professionals that we would make the meat and grain flexibility permanent and provide needed stability for long-term planning,” said Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon. “We have delivered on that promise.”
Under the final ruling, the USDA said meals should remain within recommendations for total calories: 550-650 calories for kindergarten through grade five; 650-700 calories for grades six through eight; and 750-850 calories for grades nine through 12.