Resources for:
School Nutrition Programs
School nutrition programs serve balanced, low cost or free lunch to more than 31 million children each day. School lunches follow strict nutrition guidelines. They must provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories. Let’s Go! views school nutrition programs as allies in the mission of increasing healthy eating in children and youth.
Let’s Go! works with school nutrition programs to increase the nutritional quality of school meals. Let’s Go! provides information to the public about the benefits of school lunch while providing technical assistance to school nutrition programs to further improve school lunch. In addition, Let’s Go! advocates for school nutrition programs at the local, state, and national levels.
Let’s Go! engages school nutrition programs through a unique workgroup collaborative. We bring together nutrition directors in various regions of the state for regular workgroup sessions where full participation by each member is encouraged. Ideas are researched together and decisions are made as a group.
In order to increase the nutritional quality of school meals, many Let’s Go! school nutrition programs are working towards the voluntary nutrition standards set forth by the USDA’s Healthier US School Challenge.
Featured Healthy School Lunch
Look what the lucky students at Sea Road School in Kennebunk (RSU 21) had for lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year!
- Mandarian Orange Chicken
- Asian Noodles (made with whole wheat spaghetti)
- Steamy Chinese Veggies
- Crispy Egg Roll
- Delicious Pineapple Chunks
- Fortune Cookie
- Fresh Apple Crisp
- Low-fat Milk Choice
For more information on School Nutrition Programs, please view the links below.
Nutrition Standards
Healthier US School Challenge
Healthier US School Challenge Criteria
Competitive Foods Calculator
Let's Go! Packaged Snack List for School Nutrition Programs and Wellness Policy Teams NEW 10/10
Let’s Go! School Nutrition Documents
10 Things You've Always Wanted to Know About Your School Nutrition Program
Baked Vs. Fried
School Nutrition Newsletter November 2009
School Nutrition Newsletter February 2010
School Nutrition Newsletter December 2010
Press
Maine schools win national awards for healthy lunches
The Forecaster, August 8, 2011
Kittery, York schools to seek national nutrition honor pdf
Seacoastonline.com, June 30, 2011
Kittery, York schools move to grass fed beef
Seacoastonline.com, March 6, 2011
The Challenge of School Lunch
The York Independent, February 11 - 24, 2011, p 10
How about giving school lunch a second look?
Portland Press Herald, January 2010: Maine Voices
Maine School Nutrition Directors Battle Child Obesity pdf
MPBN.net, January 13, 2011
Maine Schools Aim For Healthier Lunch Options
WMTW.com, January 14, 2011
Maine School Nutrition Association Website
Presentations
April 1, 2010, School Nutrition Presentation
Advocacy
Letter of Support - Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act
Response from Senator Collins on Letter of Support
Information about School Lunch
What You Need to Know About School Nutrition
Dishing Out Healthy School Meals
For more information about the Let's Go! School Nutrition Initiative, call Heidi Kessler at 207.662.3393, or email her at kesslh@mmc.org.
The Let's Go! School Nutrition Initiative is generously sponsored by the Walmart Foundation, the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Rite Aid.