Setting up kids for success: USDA announces $26 million in school meal program investments

WASHINGTON — In an effort to make school meals more nutritious, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made updates to school nutrition standards.

The agency published a final rule titled “Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

The updated nutrition standards will be gradually updated to include less sugar and more flexibility with menu planning between fall 2025 and fall 2027.

The standards aim to:

• Reduce the amount of added sugars in school meals, especially at breakfast.

• Scale back sodium levels over time.

• Continue to emphasize fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, to give kids the right balance of nutrients.

• Provide flexibilities to make it easier for schools to accommodate vegetarian diets and the cultural and religious food preferences of students.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service also announced $26 million in new grants to support schools’ efforts to serve nutritious foods to students.

Headlining the new investments are nearly $6.5 million in grants that will increase healthy foods in the school meals marketplace by supporting collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers and other partners.

“School meals are vital to the health and well-being of our nation’s children, and we have a responsibility to provide the highest quality of meal service,” said Kumar Chandran, acting undersecretary for USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.

“This financial support is part of USDA’s deep commitment to ensure schools can continue to provide students the critical nutrition they need to grow, thrive and reach their full potential.”