Nutrition Requirements in School Lunches
These guidelines are taken directly from: http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/background/nutrition.cfm.
"To meet USDA requirements the average school meal, analyzed weekly must: contain no more than 30 percent of calories from fat; contain no more than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat; and provide one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories.
"A reimbursable lunch must include at least three menu items. These items must include entrée and cow's milk as a beverage. All menu items or foods offered as part of a reimbursable lunch will contribute to meet the nutrition standards and must be included in the nutrition analysis. Foods served a la carte and foods of minimal nutritional value are not to be included in the menu analysis, unless offered as part of school lunch meal.
"Schools may use one of five types of menu planning systems to guarantee meals meet nutritional requirements: food-based menu planning, enhanced food-based menu planning, nutrient-standard menu planning, assisted nutrient standard menu planning, and alternate menu planning." 29
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