tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post8390902044629035604..comments2024-02-13T17:18:33.498-05:00Comments on Better D.C. School Food: Does This Look Like 554 Calories?Ed Bruskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12217850970833353800noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-76522156663425615242010-09-08T10:46:28.757-04:002010-09-08T10:46:28.757-04:00what about all natural peanut butter to go on the ...what about all natural peanut butter to go on the bagel/muffin/grain item?<br /><br />it's pretty calorie dense. not sure if it'd be very expensive for schools to serve.muffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11627731089707698168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-73709630788844987962010-09-06T14:35:03.940-04:002010-09-06T14:35:03.940-04:00Yes, I was talking about the food based standard, ...Yes, I was talking about the food based standard, and you are right about how complicated this is! <br /><br />Under the nutrient based standard, the rule is not that kids have to take two of three items offered; rather, the rule says that kids can refuse no more than one item. This may sound like splitting hairs, but in reality what it means is that while the breakfast MUST include at least 3 items, it can include 4 or even 5. The "kids can only refuse one item" rule can be used to encourage the students to take and eat a more complete breakfast than they might if only 3 items were offered. <br /><br />The example the USDA gives is of a breakfast sandwich of eggs and ham on a biscuit; it could be offered as one item, along with (for example) an orange and milk. Under the nutrient based standard, a student could take just the orange and the milk and still have it count as a complete meal (this would not count as a complete meal using the food based standard.)<br /><br />However (the USDA example explains), if the sandwich componenets are offered separately, so that there is a biscuit, and also some scrambled eggs, and also some ham, all offered separately, plus the orange and the milk, then the student MUST take 4 of those 5 items to count as a reimbursable meal. This means the student would be choosing and ideally eating a more complete breakfast than under the three-item scenario.<br /><br />I have heard some folks argue in favor of the nutrient based standard rather than the food based standard and I realize there are some advantages to it. However, if your district is using the nutrient based standard, you may want to make sure that your meal provider does not exploit the potential savings that can accrue from only having to offer 3 components, with students only having to choose two of them.Dananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-87921416448516412572010-09-06T12:35:25.905-04:002010-09-06T12:35:25.905-04:00Thanks for that heads-up, Dana. Under the nutrient...Thanks for that heads-up, Dana. Under the nutrient-based menu system, schools are required to offer three items, and kids must choose two. Under the food-based menu system, schools are requird to offer four items, and kids must choose three. It's difficult to adequately convey how complicated the rules are for the school meals program in a single blog post.Ed Bruskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12217850970833353800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-41850732726674713492010-09-06T10:38:32.190-04:002010-09-06T10:38:32.190-04:00At breakfast, under offer vs serve, the USDA requi...At breakfast, under offer vs serve, the USDA requires students to take items from 3 of the 4 food groups offered, not two. So, if a "combination" food, like a breakfast sandwich which meets both a grain and a protein requirement, is taken, then the student can complete the meal with either a fruit, or milk. But if all 4 items are offered separately - such as a small muffin that only counts as one grain, plus a cheese stick for protein, plus fruit, plus milk - then the student would need to choose 3 of those 4 items in order to have a breakfast that qualifies for government reimbursement. If the student took just two of those items - say, the small mufin and the cheese stick - that meal would not qualify.<br />You can read more about offer vs serve and what makes a reimbursable meal here<br />http://tinyurl.com/39bjjjuDana Woldownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-66828710221612081782010-09-06T10:09:40.088-04:002010-09-06T10:09:40.088-04:00The USDA requires only that kids choose two items....The USDA requires only that kids choose two items. But there's nothing to stop individual school districts from requiring more if they want.Ed Bruskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12217850970833353800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041351940135831902.post-35399832049277096612010-09-06T10:07:04.363-04:002010-09-06T10:07:04.363-04:00Ed - In Houston ISD, kids must take the whole meal...Ed - In Houston ISD, kids must take the whole meal at breakfast (hence the horrible waste, as discussed here (http://www.thelunchtray.com/breaking-news-donating-wasted-school-food/). I thought that was a nationwide requirement based on the calorie minimums you discuss here but perhaps not. I need to look into this. Thanks as always for the great reportage.Bettina at The Lunch Trayhttp://www.thelunchtray.comnoreply@blogger.com