3. Why do School Meals Matter
• School meals provide the nutrition children need!
• Children who participate in the National School Lunch Program have superior
nutritional intakes compared to those that do not participate
• Proper nutrition improves a child’s behavior, school performance, and
cognitive development
• Properly nourished children more actively participate in the education
experience
• A healthy eating environment teaches children good nutrition and the
elements of a proper diet, which can have positive effects on children’s
eating habits and physical well-being throughout life
8. School Lunch and Learning
• Provides energy to fuel body and minds
• Provides key nutritients
• Hungry students are at risk for poor
school performance
9. School lunches include
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Whole grains
• Reduced/zero TransFats
• Salads/salad bars
• Lowfat dairy
• Baked items rather than fried
• Healthy cooking
10.
11. What to put in healthier school lunches
• Fruit - best choices include fresh or tinned fruit. Dried fruit
is sticky and high in sugar, so have it occasionally.
• Vegetables - try fresh crunchy vegetable sticks with dip or
a small container with mixed vegetables such as cherry
tomatoes, carrot sticks, capsicum and cucumber.
• Milk, yoghurt or cheese - you can use reduced-fat options
for children over the age of 2 years. For children who
cannot tolerate milk products, offer appropriate daily
alternatives like calcium fortified soy or rice drink or soy
yoghurt.
• Meat or meat alternative foods - try lean meat (like chicken
strips), a hard-boiled egg or peanut butter. If your school
has a nut-free policy, peanut butter and other nuts should
not be included in your child’s lunchbox.
• Grain or cereal foods - like a bread roll, flat bread, fruit
bread or some crackers (wholegrain or wholemeal
options).
• Drinks - tap water is best.
12. Tips for healthy lunchboxes
• Cut up large pieces of fruit and put them in a
container – this makes it easier to eat,
especially if your child has wobbly teeth or if
they have less time to eat than they are used to.
Send a damp face washer to help with extra
juicy fruit.
• Consider giving half a sandwich or roll for
morning recess, as this is an easy way to get a
healthy fill.
• In the hot weather, send frozen milk, yoghurt or
water, or even frozen orange segments. This
makes a great refreshing snack and helps to
keep the lunch box cool.
• Go for colour and crunch in the lunch box by
offering a variety of colourful vegetables and
fruit.
13. What not to put in healthier school lunches
• All sweet drinks such as fruit juices, fruit drinks,
cordials, sports drinks, energy drinks, flavoured
waters, flavoured mineral waters, iced teas and soft
drinks. These are high in energy (kilojoules) and
sugar, and can lead to weight gain and oral health
problems in children.
• Dried fruit bars and ‘straps’. These are low in fibre
and are also high in sugar and can stick to children’s
teeth, causing tooth decay.
• Dairy desserts, chocolate bars and muesli bars.
These are generally high in fat and sugar.
• Chocolate spreads, jams and honey in sandwiches.
These add extra, unnecessary sugar to the lunchbox
• Fatty, salty processed meats such as salami and
Strasburg.
• 'Oven-baked' savoury biscuits. These may sound like
healthier options, but some are just as high in salt and
fat as crisps.
14. Food safety and lunchboxes
• Food is usually stored in lunchboxes for several hours
and it is important to keep the lunchbox cool so that
the food stays fresh. Some tips to help keep
lunchboxes safe include:
• Choose an insulated lunch box or one with a freezer
pack.
• Pack a wrapped frozen water bottle or freezer brick
next to foods that should be kept cold (for example
cheeses, yoghurts, meats and salads).
• Perishable foods such as dairy products, eggs and
sliced meats should be kept cool, and eaten within
about four hours of preparation. Don’t pack these
foods if just cooked. First cool in the refrigerator
overnight.
• If making lunches ahead of time, keep them in the
fridge until leaving for school or freeze them in
advance.
23. The USDA’s nutrition standards for schools
meals:
• Fruits and vegetables offered daily
• More whole grains
• Only fat-free or low-fat milk
varieties
• Calorie limits by grade
• Limits on saturated fat, trans fats
and sodium
Notas do Editor
Hello, my name is [name], and I am the [title] for [school district name]. Today, we are going to be discussing the benefits and value of participating in our school lunch program.
Farm to school programming includes a variety of activities, including [school gardens, food from local farmers, and nutrition education]. We have been participating in farm to school for [#] years. Our program is open to [all students, elementary students, middle school students] and takes place [timeline].
There are many advantages of participating in school lunch. There is an increased variety of food, an opportunity for students to learn about healthy eating and portions, and a decreased concern about food safety.
Our school meal program provides nutritious options for the students. The healthy lunches provide students with the nutrients to help them be their healthiest self by including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free milk.
Students receive meals based on their grade grouping. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are always offered one cup of milk, and at least one-half cup of fruit, three-quarters cup of vegetables, 1 ounce equivalent of protein, and one ounce equivalent of grains. An example of an ounce equivalent of protein is two tablespoons of peanut butter or one ounce of meat. An example of an ounce equivalent of grains is one slice of bread or one cup of cereal.
Students in ninth through twelfth grade are always offered larger servings.
School lunch supports learning. When students eat school lunch, they are provided with the nutrients and energy to help them do their best in school. This includes doing better on tests and focusing in class. Students who skip lunch are likely to be hungry throughout the school day. Hunger negatively impacts children's academic performance and behavior in school.
Affordability and convenience are both benefits of participating in school lunch. It is less expensive for students to eat lunch at schools than have lunches packed from home. Our school lunches cost [$] for [audience: elementary, middle, or high school] students. We know that families are busy, and it takes time each day to pack a nutritious lunch. Think about the time you can save if you participate in school lunch. For families who cannot afford school lunches, they’re able to apply for free or reduced lunch. [Depending on audience, speak about where and how to apply]
To summarize, our school lunch program provides students with the nutrients to help them do well in school. When students eat healthy lunches, they are developing healthy habits to help create a bright future. In addition, school lunch is affordable and can save time for families.