USDA MEAL PATTERN & NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS
First Lady Michelle Obama announced the USDA School Meal Pattern and Nutritional Standards. These standards require that school lunches provide more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free milk, and reduce the sodium and fat content of meals, all within a set number of calories.
The new requirements include:
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Larger servings of fruits and vegetables
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Emphasis on dark green, orange, and red vegetable sub groups
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Reduction of sodium in meals over time
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Minimum and maximum calorie ranges
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Half the grains served must be from a whole grain source
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All products served will be free of trans fat
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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:
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Student must have 3 of 5 food components on lunch tray (milk, protein, fruit, vegetable, grains)
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Milk, protein and grains are optional choices for students; for example, a tray can have water over milk on it
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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
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Food groups have very rigid minimum and maximum limits concerning calories, protein, breads, sodium
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Saturated fat must be less than 10% of total calories / 0 grams of trans fatty acids.
Grade
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Calorie Window
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Protein Limits
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Grain Limits
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Sodium
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K-5
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550-650 kcal
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1-2 oz daily / 8-10 servings week
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1 daily / 8-9 servings week
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<1230 mg
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6-8
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600-700 kcal
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1-2 oz daily / 9-10 servings week
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1 daily / 8-10 servings week
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<1360 mg
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9-12
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750-850 kcal
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2 oz daily / 10-12 servings week
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2 daily / 10-12 servings week
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<1420 mg
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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 have a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) from June 10, 2024 – August 9, 2024 (with no meal service on Thursday, July 4th & Friday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day).
The following locations will be serving the free meals this summer:
Parkview Middle School, 955 Willard Dr., Lunch pick up available from 12:00 – 12:30 pm June 10th - August 9th,
For summer school students at Cormier Early Learning, Parkview Middle School, & Ashwaubenon High School from June 10th - July 3rd.
For current menu please click on the links below:
Meals are provided to 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 to find a summer meal program near you? Use this helpful USDA website to locate a program near you!
Summer EBT Program
If your household income qualifies your children for free or reduced price meals at Ashwaubenon School District, they may qualify for the Summer EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) Program. Summer EBT is an income-based program that helps families buy food while school is out by providing them with $120 in benefits for each qualifying child.
If your child already gets free or reduced price meals at our school, you do not need to do anything to get Summer EBT. If they don’t, to get Summer EBT:
• You can apply for free and reduced price meals for them. If you are approved before August 29, 2024, then you will get Summer EBT.
• You can participate in a state benefit program. If your child is school-aged and your household participates in FoodShare, W-2, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or an income-based Medicaid program, then they are already qualified for Summer EBT. If you apply and are approved for one of the eligible programs by August 29, 2024, then you will get Summer EBT. To learn more about applying for state benefits, you can call 211, visit access.wi.gov, or contact your local or tribal agency.
• You can apply directly for Summer EBT. You can apply for Summer EBT. You will need to meet the income requirements for the program. The application will close for this year on August 29, 2024.
Note: This information is for children that attend the Ashwaubenon School District. If you have another child that goes to a different school, the steps here might not be the right ones for them to qualify for Summer EBT.
Getting Summer EBT will not affect if your child can get other benefits, such as meals offered through the Summer Food Service (SFS) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO). To learn more about meal sites near you, visit wisummerfood.org or call 211. You can also text ‘food’ to 304-304. Receiving Summer EBT will not affect your children or families’ immigration status.
If you have questions about the Summer EBT program, please call the Summer EBT team at 833-431-2224 or email dhssebtsupport@wi.gov. Visit the Summer EBT webpage to learn more.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
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mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
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fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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