Meal Pattern Requirements – Breakfast & Lunch New Director’s Training Worcester, MA August 12, 2013 Presented by: Linda Fischer, RD, LDN Bridget Ziniti, M.Ed

Agenda  Introduction  Background – Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (2010)  Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements  Video: Making It Count: Meal Pattern Requirements – Part 1  Activity – Make the Food Count as the Right Component  Meal Pattern Chart – Weekly Requirements  Reimbursable Meals and Offer vs. Serve  Video: Making It Count: – Identify a Reimbursable Lunch – Part 1  Activity – Recognizing Reimbursable Lunch Meals  Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements  USDA Policy Memo SP-28  Meal Pattern Chart – Weekly Requirements  Activity – Recognizing Reimbursable Breakfast Meals Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 2

USDA - Nutrition Standards for School Meals Website Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 3 Includes Up to Date:  Regulation Information  Technical Assistance and Guidance Materials

Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 Signed into law by President Obama on December 13, Some Provisions of the Bill:  Helps combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation’s children.  Gives USDA the authority to set new standards for foods sold during the regular school day, which includes breakfast, lunch, and competitive foods. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 4

Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 Some Provisions of the Bill:  Authorizes additional funds for the new standards for federal-subsidized school lunches (Performance Based Funding - 6 cents).  Sets minimal standards for school wellness policies.  Increases the number of eligible children enrolled (Direct Certification through Virtual Gateway). Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 5

Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 Some Provisions of the Bill:  Authorizes USDA to provide meals in more after-school programs in “high-risk” areas (Supper Programs).  Requires school districts to be audited every 3 years to see if they have met nutrition standards (Administrative Review). Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 6

Video: Making It Count Meal Pattern Requirements Part 1 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 7

Activity: Make the Food Count as the Right Component Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 8

9 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

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 One food-based menu planning approach and same age/grade groups (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).  Fruits and vegetables are two separate food components.  A daily serving of vegetables plus a weekly requirement for dark green, red/orange, beans/pea (legumes), starchy, and “other” vegetables. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 11 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 No more than half of the fruit or vegetable offerings may be in the form of juice.  All juice must be 100% full-strength.  Under Offer vs. Serve, students must select at least ½ cup of the fruits or the vegetables component as part of the reimbursable meal. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 12 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 Weekly grain ranges plus daily minimum requirement. (SP ) Extending Flexibility in the Meat/Meat Alternate and Grains Maximums for School Year Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 13 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 Beginning July 1, 2012 (SY ), through June 30, 2014 (SY ), half of the grains offered during the school week must meet the whole grain-rich criteria.  Beginning July 1, 2014 (SY ), all grains must meet the whole grain-rich criteria. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 14 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 Weekly meat/meat alternate ranges plus a daily requirement. (SP ) Extending Flexibility in the Meat/Meat Alternate and Grains Maximums for School Year  Fat-free (unflavored or flavored) and unflavored low-fat milk only. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 15 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 Calorie minimum and maximum levels.  Limit on saturated fat only (not on total fat).  Intermediate (Target 1 – SY ; and Target 2 – SY ) and final sodium reductions (SY ).  Trans fat limit. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 16 Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements

 (SP ) Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program defines: o Whole Grain-Rich Criteria o Crediting grains using the ounce equivalency (oz eq.) method  Exhibit A: School Lunch and Breakfast Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 17 Grain Requirements

 Whole Grain-Rich Criteria Foods that qualify as whole grain-rich for the school meal programs are foods that: 1)Contain 100-percent whole grain or 2)Contain a blend of whole-grain meal and/or flour and enriched meal and/or flour of which at least 50-percent is whole grain Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 18 Grain Requirements

 The 50 percent guideline for whole grain-rich requires that the grain content of a product contain 50-percent or more whole grains by weight, and the remaining grains, if any, be enriched.  This may be identified if the whole grain is listed as the first ingredient on the label declaration. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 19 The 50 Percent Guideline

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Q. What do we do when the whole grain content comes from multiple ingredients? A. Documentation must be provided showing that the whole grains are the primary ingredient by weight even though a whole grain is not listed as the first ingredient. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 23 Whole Grain from Multiple Ingredients

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 Crediting grains using the ounce equivalency (oz eq.) method  Exhibit A: School Lunch and Breakfast Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 26 Grain Requirements

 All grains are measured in ounce equivalents and must be rounded down to the nearest quarter. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 27 Grain Requirements

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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 29 Example of Rounding Down Grains to Nearest (.25) oz. eq. Whole wheat tortilla (8”) = 44 grams 44  28 = 1.57; rounds down to the nearest quarter ounce of 1.5 oz. eq. Information from the food label Information from the grain chart (exhibit A – group B)

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Video: Making It Count Identify a Reimbursable Lunch Part 1 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 31

Identifying Reimbursable Meals Under Offer Versus Serve  Regulation (7 CFR (a)(2) requires that schools identify, near or at the beginning of serving lines, what foods constitute unit priced reimbursable meals.  Schools using OVS must also identify what a student must select in order to have a reimbursable meal under OVS. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 32

Identifying Reimbursable Meals Under Offer Versus Serve  In addition to signage or other methods used in the food service areas, schools should provide information on OVS in materials, such as menus and newsletters, provided to parents or posted on websites. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 33

Sample Signage – Greenwich, CT 34

Sample Signage – Greenwich, CT 35

Sample Signage – State of Iowa 36

Sample Signage – State of Washington 37

Sample Signage – State of Wisconsin 38

Activity: Reimbursable Meals with Offer Versus Serve Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 39

Is The Following Lunch* Reimbursable? School Offers: - Hot Dog on WG Bun - Oven Fries - Green Beans - Fresh Orange - Canned Pears - Oatmeal Cookie - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Hot Dog On WG Bun - Oven Fries - Oatmeal Cookie Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern 40

Is The Following Lunch* Reimbursable? School Offers: - Popcorn Chicken - Whole Wheat Roll - Broccoli - Mashed Potatoes - Fresh Grapes - Canned Peaches - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Whole Wheat Roll - Canned Peaches - Milk Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern 41

Is The Following Lunch* Reimbursable? School Offers: - WG Pasta with or without Sauce - Garlic Bread Stick -Garden Salad -Carrot Sticks -Fresh Apple -Strawberry Cup -Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Plain Pasta - Garlic Bread Stick - Fresh Apple - Milk No! * Based on Traditional Food Based Menu Planning Approach 42

Is The Following Lunch* Reimbursable? School Offers: - WG Pancakes -Sausage Links -Orange Juice -Applesauce -Maple Syrup -Assorted Milk Student Selects: - WG Pancakes - Sausage Links - Orange Juice - Maple Syrup No! * Based on Traditional Food Based Menu Planning Approach 43

Is The Following Lunch* Reimbursable? School Offers: - Chicken Fajitas on WG Wrap -Lettuce & Tomato -Black Bean Salad -Watermelon -Raisins -Assorted Milk Student Selects: -Chicken Fajitas on WG Wrap - Milk No! * Based on Traditional Food Based Menu Planning Approach 44

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 45 Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements

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(SP (v.2) Questions & Answers on the School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern in School Year  Aspects of the SBP meal pattern are being phased-in over multiple years.  Additional guidance will be provided for SY and beyond, when all of the component requirements are in effect. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 47 Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements

General Requirements:  In SY all schools must use a food based menu planning approach for breakfast.  Schools must implement the three age-grade groups (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12).  Schools must plan breakfast meals that meet the calorie ranges, on average, over the course of the week.  Foods offered must contain zero grams of trans fat per portion. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 48 Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements

Food Component:  Is one of three food groups that comprise reimbursable breakfasts. These are grains (with optional meat/meat alternate allowed); fruit/vegetable; and milk. Food Item:  Is a specific food offered within the three food components. For the purposes of Offer vs. Serve, a school must offer at least four food items and students must select as least three food items. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 49 Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements

Grains:  For all grade groups, schools must offer at least 1 ounce equivalent (oz eq.) of grains each day.  The minimum weekly offering varies by age-grade group:  7 oz eq. for grades K-5  8 oz eq. for grades 6-8  9 oz eq. for grades 9-12  Half of grains offered must be whole grain-rich in SY Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 50 Breakfast Food Components

Optional Meat/Meat Alternate:  There is no separate requirement to offer meat/meat alternates in the new SBP meal pattern.  School may offer a meat/meat alternate in place of part of the grains component after the minimum daily grains requirement is offered in the menu or planned breakfast. A serving 1 oz eq. of meat/meat alternate may credit as 1 oz eq. of grains.  Alternately, a school may offer a meat/meat alternate as an additional food and not credit it toward any component. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 51 Breakfast Food Components

Juice/Fruit/Vegetable:  In SY , there is no change to the existing Juice/Fruit/Vegetable component.  Schools must offer at least ½ cup of fruits and/or vegetables to all age-grade groups.  Vegetables and fruits may be offered interchangeably, there are no substitution requirements and no vegetable subgroup requirements.  There are no limitations on juice in SY  Students are not required to take fruit under OVS in SY Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 52 Breakfast Food Components

Fluid Milk:  Schools must offer only fat-free (unflavored or flavored) or low-fat (unflavored) milk.  For all age-grade groups, schools must offer at least 1 cup of milk daily.  A variety of milk, at least two options, must be offered. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 53 Breakfast Food Components

Offer vs. Serve (OVS):  Under OVS, for SY , a student must be offered at least four food items and must select at least three food items.  The food items selected may be from any of the required components and must be offered in at least the minimum daily portion.  In SY , students are not required to take a minimum ½ cup of fruit or vegetables for OVS. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 54 Breakfast Food Components

Breakfast* With Four Food Items School Offers: - Slice of WG Toast - WG-Rich Cereal - Orange Slices - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Slice of WG Toast - Oranges Slices - Milk Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 55

Breakfast* With Five Food Items School Offers: - WG Muffin (2oz.eq) - Orange Juice - Banana - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - WG Muffin - Milk Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 56

Breakfast* With Four Food Items & M/MA Credited as Grain School Offers: - WG-Rich Cereal - Hard-Boiled Egg - Raisins - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Hard-Boiled Egg - Raisins - Milk Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 57

Breakfast* With Four Food Items & M/MA Credited as Grain School Offers: - Yogurt - Hard-Boiled Egg - Raisins - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Hard-Boiled Egg - Raisins - Milk No! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 58

Breakfast* With Four Food Items & M/MA Offered as an Additional Food School Offers: - Slice of WG Toast -Hard-Boiled Egg (as an additional item) - Apple Slices - Orange Juice - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Slice of WG Toast - Hard-Boiled Egg - Apple Slices - Orange Juice Yes! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 59

Breakfast* With Four Food Items & M/MA Offered as an Additional Food School Offers: - Slice of WG Toast -Hard-Boiled Egg (as an additional item) - Apple Slices - Orange Juice - Assorted Milk Student Selects: - Slice of WG Toast - Hard-Boiled Egg - Orange Juice No! *Assume all portions are in compliance with the meal pattern Reimbursable, YES or NO??? 60

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 61 Common Missteps with Meeting the Meal Pattern

Questions?? Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 62

Resources Greenwich, CT Public Schools: Iowa Department of Education: John Stalker Institute of Food & Nutrition: Making it Count: Mass in Motion - Create Healthier Schools (MA School Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages):

Resources Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Office for Nutrition, Health and Safety Programs: State of Washington, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: USDA – Food Fact Sheets: USDA – Nutrition Standards for School Meals: USDA – Webinars: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: 64