school lunches

Senate Ag Committee Advances Whole Milk Bill
Senate Ag Committee Advances Whole Milk Bill
Senate Ag Committee Advances Whole Milk Bill
Groups like the National Milk Producers Federation and others applauded the Senate Ag Committee for supporting, by voice vote, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.  The bill’s markup is a critical first step in passing the bipartisan legislation, which has already been approved at the House committee level.   “...
WSBC Promotes Beef On School Menus
WSBC Promotes Beef On School Menus
WSBC Promotes Beef On School Menus
Last week, school food service professionals from across Washington gathered in Prosser for a hands-on, educational event to learn about including local beef in the school cafeteria.  The March 31st-April 1st event, hosted by the Washington State Beef Commission brought together 19 school nutrition professionals and farm to school coordinators in hopes of deepening their understanding of beef’s po
Could Whole Milk Return To Schools?
Could Whole Milk Return To Schools?
Could Whole Milk Return To Schools?
More than a dozen years after higher-fat milk was stripped from school meals to slow obesity in American kids and boost their health, momentum is growing to put it back.  Federal lawmakers have revived bills that would allow whole and 2% milk to be served again in schools, in addition to the skim and low-fat milk mandated since 2012.   ...
WSU To Teach Food Safety To School Food Preparers
WSU To Teach Food Safety To School Food Preparers
WSU To Teach Food Safety To School Food Preparers
Thanks to recent USDA funding, Washington State University’s School of Food Science and WSU Extension will teach food safety to those overseeing public school meals.  The half-million-dollar USDA Food and Nutrition Service award will bring select participants from across the country to the WSU Pullman campus for a week of immersive food science and safety training in the summers of 2025 and 2026. 
Investments will Strengthen School Meals
Investments will Strengthen School Meals
Investments will Strengthen School Meals
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized USDA’s commitment to connecting local farmers and producers with schools nationwide that serve meals to about 30 million children every school day.  Vilsack, joining others across the country in celebrating National School Lunch Week and National Farm to School Month, pointed to the Department’s recent investment of $500 million for schools to purchase unprocess
USDA Celebrates New School Meal Options as Year Begins
USDA Celebrates New School Meal Options as Year Begins
USDA Celebrates New School Meal Options as Year Begins
The USDA joined the Education Department and other education, parent, and school meal partner groups last week to celebrate new school meal options as the school year started.  The organizations held a virtual pep rally to celebrate the back-to-school season and thank the champions that educate and nourish our nation’s school children.   “Healt...
Boise State, Others Receive Funding To Provide School Meals
Boise State, Others Receive Funding To Provide School Meals
Boise State, Others Receive Funding To Provide School Meals
Earlier this week, the USDA announced new investments to provide healthy school meals to students.  The Department announced several actions to expand support and access to the school meal program including $50 million in grants to increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers.   ...
Nutrition Changes Increased Fruits and Veggies In School Meals
Nutrition Changes Increased Fruits and Veggies In School Meals
Nutrition Changes Increased Fruits and Veggies In School Meals
A 2012 change in school meal nutrition standards drove changes in the type of foods schools purchased.  According to data released by ERS this week, following the change in standards, schools obtained more fruits and vegetables through USDA Foods and especially through USDA’s Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.  While there w...

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