This final rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans - is the next step in continuing the science-based improvement of school meals and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security.
Updated School Meal Standards: working towards a common goal of healthy children and helping them reach their full potential.
School meals will continue to include fruits and vegetables, emphasize whole grains, and give kids the right balance of nutrients for healthy, tasty meals. For the first time, schools will focus on products with less added sugar, especially in school breakfast.
School nutrition professionals continue to make school meals the healthiest meals children eat in a day! To take school meals to the next level, USDA is updating the school nutrition standards after considering recommendations from the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and listening to a diverse range of voices with experience in child nutrition and health.
Provisions in the final rule that could impact CACFP and/or SFSP.
USDA is implementing regulatory changes to the SFSP that simplify program requirements and improve the customer experience.
The following timeline outlines key milestones for FNS, states, and tribes as we work together to implement new flexibilities in the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option as well as stand up the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program.
This memorandum provides best practices for establishing a single application process for experienced program operators providing year-round meal services to at-risk children in low-income areas.
Comparison table for CEP proposed rule: current requirements vs. proposed changes.
Comparison Chart: Current Standards vs. Proposed Standards