New 2012 USDA Regulations: Food-Based Menu Planning

1. New 2012 USDA Regulations:Food-Based Menu Planning Presented by: Kathryn Atwater

2. The Basics • Required for all age groups starting 2012-2013 school year • Specific National School Lunch Program “meal pattern” requirements regulated by the USDA • Purpose: Enhance the diet and health of school children and decrease the childhood obesity trend • Food components: • Meat/Meat Alternate • Vegetables • Fruit • Grain • Fluid Milk

3. Meat/Meat Alternate • Measured in ounce equivalents (oz. eq) • In General, the following represent 1 oz. eq.: • 1 oz. meat, poultry, shellfish • ½ cup cooked dry beans • 1 egg • 1 oz. nuts or seeds • 1 oz. low-fat cheese (<3 g per 50 g product)

5. Vegetables • Measured in cups (c) • Separated into subgroups (with examples): • Dark Green (broccoli, collard greens, spinach, etc) • Red/Orange (carrots, sweet potatoes, etc) • Legumes (black beans, pinto beans, etc) • Starchy (corn, green peas, etc.) • Other Vegetable (all other fresh, frozen, and canned)

7. Fruit • Measured in cups • Can be offered fresh, frozen and without sugar, canned in light syrup, or dried • Can be juice • Must be 100% juice or juice blend • Cannot account for > ½ the weekly

9. Grains • Measured in ounce equivalents (oz. eq) • MUST be whole or enriched grains • Must also have 2 of the following: • ≥ 8 grams whole grain/serving • FDA health claim on packaging • “whole grain” is 1st ingredient on the list • Examples (whole grain) • Pasta • Ready-to-eat cereal • Bread, etc.

11. Fluid Milk • Measured in ounces • Must be 1% or fat free • Must contain Vitamin A & D • Serving size: 8 fluid ounces • Child able to pick which kind want • Can be flavored e.g. Chocolate but MUST be Fat Free

12. Other Considerations.. • Specific caloric range • ≤10 % of calories allowed from saturated fat • Sodium levels to be slowly decreased over the next years however, not to be enforced until 2022-2023 • NO trans fat whatsoever! • Concrete details to these measures still pending

13. Child Nutrition Labels (CN) • Purpose: Clearly identify amount the product contributes to lunch meal pattern requirements • Only used on entrée items being given to kids • Helps to keep organization when it is hard to identify all the components

15. Old Method: Nutrient Analysis • Previous menu planning method: Nutrient Analysis • Requires computer program to analyze nutrients • Meals must have 3 items: • Entrée • Milk • Side Dish • Entrée can be combination of items and only counts as ONE entrée, also receive ONE side dish e.g. entrée: hamburger & fries+1 side dish • Deals with menu ITEMS not COMPONENTS like Food-Based Planning method does

16. Questions? • Questions? • Comments? THANK-YOU!