Support Healthier School Lunches

This year, schools across the country are implementing updated nutrition standards for school lunches.

Students will have more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and less salt and unhealthy fats on their school lunch trays. With one out of every three children in overweight or obese, 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program, and 15 years since the last update, it was time to make some improvements.

Schools are working hard to implement these healthier standards, but they could use some support. Below are resources and ideas to help you join this effort and support healthier school meals.

Tip/Fact Sheets

• Tips for Parents - DOC, PDF
• Tips for Educators - DOC, PDF
• Tips for School Business Officers - DOC, PDF
• No or Low Cost Policies to Support a Healthy School Nutrition Environment - DOC, PDF
• Tips on Getting Kids to Eat Healthier Meals - DOC, PDF
  
  • Tips for School Food Service Professionals - DOC, PDF
• Costs and Revenues of the New School Meal Standards
• New School Meals: Frequently Asked Questions
• Healthy Snack Ideas

Infographics

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• Calories in School Lunches
• Calories Before/After the New Standards
• What a Proper Lunch Looks Like
• 850 Calories is Enough

Policy Options for States and Localities

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Healthy School Meals, Snacks, and Beverages: State and Local Policy Options

Communication Materials

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• Model Letter to Parents - DOC
• Model Message to Organization Members (Action Alert) - DOC
• Social Media
  
  • Twitter — Model Tweets - DOC
  • Facebook — Model Posts - DOC
  • Graphics and Videos
    
    • Back to School Logos - DOC
    • Back to School Checklist - JPG
    • "It's School Food" Music Video, by School Food FOCUS stakeholder Mellissa Honeywood
• Model Press Release - DOC
• Model Newsletter Article - DOC
• Model Letters to the Editor
  
  • General - DOC
  • Response to Negative Press - DOC
• Support Statements

Other Resources

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• USDA Healthier School Day Website
• Salad Bars for Schools: Let's Move campaign
• HealthierUS School Challenge
• First Lady Video on Healthier School Meals
• Healthy, Profitable School Fundraisers
• MyPlate Fact Sheet: Be a Healthy Role Model for Kids
• USDA Team Nutrition Resources
• Food Day Resources for Schools
• Jamie Oliver Food Foundation's School Food Toolkits






Photo Credits: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

For more information, contact Dr. Margo Wootan at
the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
1220 L St. N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
Phone: 202-777-8351, Fax: 202-265-4954, E-mail: nutritionpolicy@cspinet.org