Nutrition Standards

Breakfast Meal Pattern

Program operators of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are required to use meal patterns and dietary specifications established by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop menus and serve meals to students. On April 25, 2024, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service posted the Final Rule for Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final rule offers new flexibilities for School Nutrition Programs (SNPs) to phase in over the next three school years (SY) to meet the needs of vegetarian diets and other dietary preferences, as well as to other program areas to support local food procurement. The final rule also made significant updates to nutrition standards, most notably for added sugar and sodium. Additionally, the final rule offers new flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) to meet the needs of vegetarian diets and other dietary preferences and to support the procurement of fresh local foods. Further, foods sold or served in schools are also subject to state laws and regulations including the California Food Safety Act and the California School Food Safety Act.

View the Breakfast Meal Pattern Requirements HERE!

Lunch Meal Pattern

Program operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are required to use meal patterns and dietary specifications established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop menus and serve meals to students. On April 25, 2024, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service posted the Final Rule for Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final rule offers new flexibilities for School Nutrition Programs (SNPs) to phase in over the next three school years (SY) to meet the needs of vegetarian diets and other dietary preferences, as well as to other program areas to support local food procurement. The final rule also made significant updates to nutrition standards, most notably for added sugar and sodium. Additionally, the final rule offers new flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) to meet the needs of vegetarian diets and other dietary preferences and to support the procurement of fresh local foods. Further, foods sold or served in schools are also subject to state laws and regulations including the California Food Safety Act and the California School Food Safety Act.

View the Lunch Meal Pattern Requirements HERE!