Nutrition and Safety of USDA Foods
Points for Parents
- USDA purchases only high-quality fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and grains from American farmers and provides it to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- USDA Foods offers more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and more foods that are lower in sugar, salt, and fat than ever before.
- USDA Foods aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate and meets food safety standards set by federal agencies.
Points for Administrators
- Students participation in the NSLP, coupled with a healthful school food environment, can prepare students to be more successful learners and higher achievers.
- A direct link has been shown between nutritional intake and academic performance. Temporary hunger from missing meals and moderate under-nutrition can compromise brain development and school performance.
- Increased participation in school meal programs is proven to be associated with increases in academic test scores, daily attendance, and class participation, and it has also been linked to reductions in absences and tardiness.
- Recent studies indicate that creating a healthy school food environment is important because it influences children’s eating behaviors.
Financial Benefits of USDA Foods
Points for Parents
- USDA Foods uses its buying power to help schools participating in the NSLP get more high-quality, healthy food.
- All of the food provided through the USDA Foods program is American grown and supports American farmers.
- School meals are affordably priced for all children to be able to take advantage of the good nutrition that’s served at school.
Points for Administrators
- USDA understands that schools work hard to keep costs down and provide meals that are both a good value and nutritious.
- USDA Foods provides about 15 to 20 percent of all food served by schools. This represents approximately $1.2 billion dollars spent by USDA each year. Schools purchase the remaining 80 to 85 percent of their food from commercial suppliers, and are always encouraged to compare prices to ensure the best value.
Variety Offered by USDA Foods
Points for Parents
- USDA is continually responding to the needs and tastes of school children. In addition to providing healthy foods through the NSLP, they (we) know it’s important to provide food that kids will eat.
- More than 180 nutritious food items are available through USDA Foods – fresh, frozen, packaged, canned, dried and bulk.
Points for Administrators
- USDA Foods provides a variety of convenient products to keep lunch costs down, support menu planning, student taste preferences, school nutrition goals, and local wellness initiatives.
