school meals
The Food and Nutrition Service administers several programs that provide healthy food to children including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and the Special Milk Program. Administered by state agencies, each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, childcare centers and after-school programs for providing healthy meals to children.
Milk, cheese and yogurt contribute important nutrients to the school meal programs. In fact, milk is the number one food source of calcium, Vitamin D and potassium in children’s diets. National Dairy Council offers resources, such as sample menus and analysis that meet nutrition guidelines, to support School Nutrition Professionals in efforts to provide healthy meals to students. Sample menus utilized USDA Recipes or products currently in the marketplace and feature Offer verses Serve options overall (not with each food station).
