Food Service News

NEW USDA MEAL PATTERN & NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS

First Lady Michelle Obama has announced the new USDA School Meal Pattern and Nutritional Standards.  These new standards require that school lunches provide more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and fa-free milk, and reduce the sodium and fat content of meals, all within a set number of calories.

The new requirements include:

• Larger servings of fruits and vegetables
• Emphasis on dark green, orange, and red vegetable sub groups
• Reduction of sodium in meals over time
• Minimum and maximum calorie ranges
• Half the grains served must be from a whole grain source
• All products served will be free of trans fat
• Weekly requirements for beans and legumes

We are proud to say that we are steps ahead and have already implemented a majority of these changes.

When your child comes through the cafeteria line this fall, a fruit or vegetable must be on their tray as part of the new meal pattern.  Throughout the year, we will be celebrating these changes with fun promotions to encourage children to eat healthier!

GUIDELINES AT A GLANCE:

• Student must have 3 of 5 food components on lunch tray (milk, protein, fruit, vegetable, grains)
• Milk, protein and grains are optional choices for students; for example, a tray can have water over milk on it
• Fruit and/or vegetables are mandated; K-12 students must have at least 1/2 cup fruit or 1/2 cup vegetable or 1/2 cup of fruit and vegetable combination
• Food groups have very rigid minimum and maximum limits concerning calories, protein, breads, sodium
• Saturated fat must be less than 10% of total calories / 0 grams of trans fatty acids.

Summer Food Service Program
Good nutrition and healthy meals should not stop when school ends. Ashwaubenon School District believes offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months is so important to the educational success that they, along with Ashwaubenon Village Park & Rec, will begin a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). 

The following locations will be serving the free meals this summer: Parkview Middle School, 955 Willard Dr., from 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm and Ashwaubenon Fort Howard Park, 2172 S. Broadway, from 11:30 am to 11:50 am. Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.

Do you need help finding a summer meal program near you? Use this helpful USDA website to locate a program near you! USDA's Summer Meal Locator Tool http://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilties who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are def, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.  To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washinton, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202)690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.