Increasing Whole Grains & Improving School Nutrition

We applaud the USDA’s recent announcement about its revamped school meal nutrition standards while acknowledging that school food service personnel have worked long and hard to deliver the most nutritious meals possible for the budgets they’ve been given. The new guidelines are a clear indication of the USDA’s dedication to the health and well-being of this country’s children and we look forward to their implementation.

Specifically, these standards call for increased availability of fruits, vegetables, fat-free/low-fat milk as well as whole grains. Given the data showing the majority of American children consume less than one serving of whole grains each day, the increase in whole grains at school is an absolute necessity. By consuming fewer than the recommended amount of whole grains, children are missing out on the key nutrients whole grains provide, such as fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, B vitamins and antioxidants. Furthermore, whole grain consumption has been linked to important health benefits, such as a healthier weight and reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

It is our hope the new standards will help more children “make half their grains whole” as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We’d like to reiterate our support and look forward to watching the positive effects of these changes in America’s youth.