Then last year, the USDA moved to allow schools to substitute potatoes and other starchy vegetables for fruit with breakfast. And particularly young children need more exposure to unprocessed, easy-to-eat, fruits, vegetables and greens.”ADKids can get more than half of their daily calories from school meals. About two-thirds of the 30 million children who eat school meals every day qualify as low-income and are getting meals free or for a reduced price. Low-income kids are disproportionately affected by obesity and are less likely to be fed healthy meals at home, so the nutritional makeup of school meals is impactful. ADThe School Nutrition Association, the trade group for school food-service manufacturers and school food professionals, has frequently advocated for less stringent nutritional requirements.

Source: Washington Post January 17, 2020 19:08 UTC