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1. Do Schools Have To Provide Alternatives For Children Of Special Need?

Schools are gradually beginning to accommodate the requests of children on special diets. If your child has a medical condition, secure a note from your doctor.

Take the time to explain your child's needs to your school food service provider. While this may sometimes be a difficult process, bear in mind that your tax dollars are paying for the meals. Parents who are firm often meet with some success. Not only are you benefiting your child when you take the time to work with food service, you are also paving the way for future students.

2. What Are Nutrient Standard Menus (NuMenus) And How Do They Compare to Food Group Based Planning?

In 1996, lawmakers considered updating school menu planning by replacing the food-based menu system with a nutrient-based one. The nutrient-based system promised a higher standard of nutritional accountability and greater flexibility in menu design. In the end, lawmakers compromised and allowed food service providers to select either system when planning their weekly menus.

The Nutrient Standard approach, or NuMenus, calls upon schools to provide a nutrional analysis of foods served. This means schools may select whatever foods they choose, as long as the food meets one third of the weekly recommended servings of vitamins and minerals, and limits fat consumption to 30%, (only 10% of this can be from saturated fat).

Conversely, the food-based system, introduced in 1956, mandates that schools serve one item from each of the following foods groups: meat/meat alternates, breads/grains, fruits/vegetables, and dairy. Both systems must comply with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in terms of daily recommended servings and limiting fat content.

The NuMenu approach was driven in part by an increased awareness of the value of plant-based foods; specifically that unrefined grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit are high in essential vitamins and minerals, fulfill protein requirements, contain little cholesterol, and no fat.

In the food-group plan, the menu is based primarily on meat and dairy products -- both foods that are inherently high in fat, and limited in nutritional value. This style of diet has negatively impacted American health, and is understood to be a major component in not only the current obesity epedemic, but also the increase in heart disease, diabetes, asthma, allergies, certain cancers, and more.

CHOICE advocates the use of the Nutrient standard menu. Not only is it a more accurate measure of the actual nutrient quality of your child's school lunch, it also provides the flexibility necessary to provide alternative and healthier meal options.

Currently, it is estimated that only 15 - 20% of our nation's schools have voluntarily initiated this change.

 

3. Can Schools Utilize Protein Sources Other Than Meat In School Lunches?

If your child's school bases their menus on the Nutrient standard system, then they may utilize any protein-rich food to satisfy the protein requirement (including lentils, tofu, chickpeas, etc.) The flexibility offered by the Nutrient Standard system is ideal for those who want to offer a larger selection of plant based alternatives.

If your child's school is using a version of the food-based system, soy alternatives will be more difficult to employ. But it is feasible. With the approval of Alternate Protein Products (APPs) in 2000, the School Lunch program now has the freedom to provide children with meatless, cholesterol-free entrée alternatives.

To qualify as a meat substitute there is a protein / weight ratio that must be met. Many alternative soy products, including tofu, do not meet this weight specification, and therefore do not qualify as Alternate Protein Products.

The USDA has allowed for protein alternatives because 1) there is demand, and 2) protein alternatives are viable and potentially less expensive.

 

4. Are Schools Allowed To Use Alternative Beverages Instead Of Milk?

The Child Nutrition Act requires that all schools participating in the School Lunch Program serve cow's milk with each meal. While schools may purchase and serve alternative beverages, such as soymilk or calcium fortified juice, they currently cannot serve them as a direct replacement for milk.
Many health practitioners have challenged the resoluteness of the USDA regarding this regulation because:
1) Milk has a high fat content,
2) This is the only part of the school meal that is not allowed to be adjusted on the basis of a Nutrient Standard Approach, and
3) Alternative beverages need to be available for children with varying medical conditions, as well as children who choose not to drink milk for religious and personal reasons.

 

5. Does My Child Have To Drink Milk If She Doesn't Want To?

The USDA does not require children to take or drink milk, although it is encouraged for children in grades K through 8. Most schools utilize the "Offer vs. Serve" policy allowing your child to choose whether or not they will drink milk.

However, state regulatory and individual schools do have the option of making milk a requirement with every meal, for every child (unless they have a note from their doctor exempting them). If this is the policy in your school, and you do not want your child to be expected or forced to drink the milk, you will have to either get a doctor's note, or an exemption from the school principle / administrator.

6. Can I Visit My Child's School Cafeteria?

Parents have a relationship with school lunches dating back to the 1800s. While there is no official federal policy regarding a parent's right to take lunch with their children, it is encouraged by the USDA, the federal branch overseeing school lunches.

 

7. Do Schools Serve Vegetarian Alternatives?

Even with the approval of Nutrient Standard menus and APP's, schools are still not likely to provide viable vegetarian alternatives unless they are asked or encouraged, for several reasons:
1. People cook what they like and know.
If the food service provider seldom partakes of vegetarian alternatives, they are less likely to consciously include them in their menu selection.

2. Soy products and plant-based menus are relatively new to non-vegetarian markets.
They are not, as yet, readily available through commodity or bonus foods program, nor are they easily available through school lunch suppliers.
3. Those with special dietary preferences often do not partake of the school lunch program.
However, with growing interest and need, schools are becoming more likely to consider plant-based alternatives. What is necessary is a good understanding of how to introduce these foods successfully into the school meal program and an increase in requests for these options.

 

8. Isn't It Easier Just To Pack A Healthy Meal?

If you need or want to, clearly that is a viable option. But the hope is for the school to eventually provide satisfactory meals. When children don't take school lunches, everyone loses:
• Your child loses the option of a warm, healthy meal.

• Parents have to shop, and spend more on their children's lunches,

• And school service providers lose customers, making it harder to improve school meals.
Clearly, if the school is not willing to address the needs of special diet students you will have no choice but to pack a lunch. At the same time, if the school can learn to make good tasting alternatives that should be encouraged.

 

9. Is A Vegetarian Diet Healthy, And Will It Provide Necessary Nutrients?

"Appropriately planned vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarian diets satisfy nutrient needs of infants, children, and adolescents and promote normal growth." --- The American Dietetic Association's position on vegetarian diets.

Poor health is seldom an issue for vegetarians. In fact, as you have probably understood from reading this website, plant-centered diets are generally more healthy.

Good health requires understanding nutrition basics and proper meal planning. If you are not yourself vegetarian, but you child is, we recommend you take the time to both understand the benefits of a vegetarian diet and learn how to cook vegetarian meals. The section on Diet and Health will provide you important information as well as links to relevant sites. Similarly, the subsection titled, 'Home Recipes' offer a few selections to get you started. By utilizing the links in this section, you will have many recipes from which to choose.