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What is Child Nutrition Services? |
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1. What is the National School Lunch Program?
The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in over 101,000 public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 30.5 million children each school day in 2007. In 1998, Congress expanded the National School Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks served to children in after school educational and enrichment programs to include children through18 years of age.
The Food and Nutrition Service administers the program at the Federal level. At the State level, the National School Lunch Program is usually administered by State education agencies, which operate the program through agreements with school food authorities.
2. How does the National School Lunch Program work?
Generally, public or nonprofit private schools of high school grade or under and public or nonprofit private residential child care institutions may participate in the school lunch program. School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced price lunches to eligible children. School food authorities can also be reimbursed for snacks served to children through age 18 in after school educational or enrichment programs.
3. What are the nutritional requirements for school lunches?
School lunches must meet the applicable recommendations of the 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend that no more than 30 percent of an individual's calories come from fat, and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. Regulations also establish a standard for school lunches to provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories.
School lunches must meet Federal nutrition requirements, but decisions about what specific foods to serve and how they are prepared are made by local school food authorities.
The Davidson County Schools Child Nutrition Services follows all Federal Laws and State Statues to ensure all programs can continue to be a federally funded program.
Child Nutrition Services provides approved menus designed by a menu committee, similar to the way the home office of a restaurant chain determines what its restaurants may serve. Menus are computer analyzed to assure they meet nutrition guidelines required to receive federal reimbursement for meals. Attention is given to provide food that is enjoyable and nutritionally appealing to its students. Students with special diet needs are also accommodated at the breakfast and lunch meal with a licensed physician's Diet Order.
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