Daniel T. Connor
Superintendent

227 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 615-6720

District news

School lunch to change this fall thanks to new national nutritional standards

August 28, 2012 - For the first time in nearly two decades, the federal government has issued new nutrition standards for meals served to America’s schoolchildren, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This change is part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, championed by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of her Let’s Move! health and wellness campaign – a program designed to combat childhood obesity.

Goshen already meeting some of the new requirements
Goshen began implementing healthy changes several years ago and is already meeting some of the new requirements. Our cafeterias offer only fat-free and low fat milk options, and whole grain products, such as brown rice, cereals, whole wheat breads and rolls, have already been phased in -- two of the new school lunch standards.

More fruits and veggies, limited calories for school lunches
This school year, Goshen’s school lunches will offer an increased variety of fruit and vegetables for students to experience. The new lunch standards require more fruit and vegetable offerings, with specific categories of vegetables being offered each week, such as leafy green, orange/red, legumes and beans.

Calorie limits for students, based on grade level, will also be imposed. The maximum calories per lunch served are 650 calories for grades K-5; 700 calories for grades 6-8; and 850 calories for grades 9-12.

Students to be offered five components; one must be fruit or veggie
Students will be offered five components to select from: milk, fruit, vegetable, grain and meat/meat alternate. Each student will be able to choose 3, 4 or 5 of these components; however, one item must be a fruit or vegetable.

Components of the new school lunch

Milk choices offered:

• 1% unflavored

• Fat Free, flavored

• Fat Free, unflavored

Fruit and Vegetable offerings will be increased:

• Elementary and Middle School students will be offered a minimum of ½ cup fruit AND ½ cup vegetable

• High School students will be offered a minimum of 1 cup of fruit and 1 cup vegetable

• Vegetable groups now must be offered once each week:

  • Dark Green, such as broccoli, spinach and romaine lettuce

  • Red/Orange, such as carrots, tomatoes and red peppers

  • Legumes (beans & peas), such as black beans, lentils and kidney beans

  • Starchy, such as corn, white potatoes and green peas

  • Other, such as mushrooms, celery and cauliflower

• Students must take at least 1 portion of fruit or vegetable in order for their meal to be considered COMPLETE and to be charged the meal price according to their status (Paid, Reduced or Free)

• Students refusing both the fruit and vegetable components will be charged a la carte prices for ALL items on their tray.

The changes that took effect in July are just the first steps in a three-year plan to phase-in the new standards. Changes to breakfasts and snacks served in school will happen over the next two years.

For more information on the Dietary Guidelines, visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Students will see DON'T 4 GET! signs on each lunch line -- as seen above -- explaining that day's lunch choices. The signs instruct students to take at least one fruit or veggie offering, and at least three items total for a complete lunch.