1. An Introduction to School Nutrition
School District Date
This presentation can be customized for local school districts based on your audience. Refer to the notes section for suggestions on adding slides that highlight menus or programs unique to your district. Also consider utilizing the video and handouts found at For example, here are a few resources you can prepare and distribute after the presentation:
Customizable lunch and breakfast flyers: easily customize each flyer by adding your school’s name, state, website URL and price per meal.
National School Lunch Week flyer: contains key information about healthy school lunches for parents. Download here and distribute to parents:
Video: animated video that highlights the impact hard-working school nutrition professionals have on students:

2. School Lunch Our District’s Lunch Program
National School Lunch Program
30.5 million children served daily in 100,000 schools nationwide
Our District’s Lunch Program
XX students served daily
$x.xx (elem.)
$x.xx (second.)
Free or reduced price for eligible students
Our school district participates in the National School Lunch Program, which serves more than 30 million students every school day. To participate in this program, every school lunch and snack we serve must meet federal nutrition standards, and we are required to offer free or reduced price school meals to eligible students. (Discuss application process.)

3. School Breakfast Our District’s Breakfast Program
School Breakfast Program
14 million children served daily in
90,000 schools nationwide
Our District’s Breakfast Program
XX students served daily
$x.xx (elem.)
$x.xx (second.) Free/reduced for eligible students
We are also proud to help students start their days off right with healthy school breakfasts. (Consider discussing or adding a slide/bullet about any unique breakfast delivery models, eg grab and go or breakfast in the classroom)

4. School meals are healthier than ever!
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Whole grains
Salads and salad bars
Low-fat dairy items
Baked items, not fried
Healthy cooking/prep techniques
Talk about what makes your school nutrition program’s meals healthy. (Customize slide with additional details about your program, eg Farm to School, chef partnerships, etc)

5. Federal School Nutrition Standards
More produce, including weekly servings of:
leafy greens
red/orange vegetables
legumes
Students must take a fruit or vegetable with every meal!
Whole grains
Fat free or 1% milk
Age-appropriate limits on:
Calories
Sodium
Trans and saturated fat
The federal government recently updated the nutrition standards for school meals and snacks to ensure that all foods and beverages sold in schools are healthy options. (Consider adding a slide with examples of specific menu changes your district has made to meet these standards and/or how your program is working to make healthier menus more appealing to students.)

6. Every school lunch offers 5 key ingredients
(students must take at least 3):
Milk – Fat free or 1%
Vegetables – From fresh carrots to kale
Fruit – Everything from kiwi to locally grown apples
Grains – Whole grain breads and brown rice
Protein – lean meats and beans
**Customize this slide to highlight what your program serves, consider adding a slide with photos of your meals and cafeterias, and info about special projects: nutrition education efforts, kids cooking programs, farm to school, scratch prepared dishes, etc.
With all of these choices, school meals add up to great value!

7. How Parents Can Get Involved
© SNA/ Rick Brady

8. How Parents Can Get Involved
Parents and school nutrition professionals share the same goals:
Well-balanced nutritious meals for their kids
Creating healthy eating habits for life
Parents are role models and influence what kids eat
Encourage healthy eating and lifestyles at home so students will make healthy choices at school
Emphasize importance of parent’s role in helping establish healthy eating habits and in modeling healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle.

9. How Parents Can Get Involved
Review the cafeteria menu with your kids to help them plan for a balanced meal
INSERT HOW TO ACCESS MENU (Website, App, social media links and/or monthly copies sent home. Mention any special diet info provided)
Join your kids for school lunch or school breakfast

10. How Parents Can Get Involved
Communicate any concerns you and your kids may have
Review the district’s Wellness Policy
Tell us what you think!
INSERT CONTACT INFO
Insert info on any volunteering opportunities, catering options for classroom parties, forums for feedback, and the best method for parents to communicate concerns

11. Questions?
Questions?
© SNA/ Rick Brady