Minnesota Schools Celebrate National School Lunch Week

National School Lunch Week Aims to Get Kids Excited About Healthy Choices

ST. CLOUD, Minn., Oct. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 32 million children eat school lunch everyday across the USA, and to celebrate healthy lunch choices, schools across Minnesota will celebrate National School Lunch Week: October 14-18, 2013. The theme, "School Lunch Across the USA" will include events and activities that promote the benefits of healthy school lunches. It will also celebrate the flavors, ingredients, and culture of various regions of the USA.

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"The campaign will put a spotlight on the healthy foods and positive changes that schools have incorporated into their menus," said Brenda Braulick, president of the Minnesota School Nutrition Association.

The federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to students everyday. The program, which has been serving the nation's children for over 60 years, requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards by:

• Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
• Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;
• Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties; and
• Reducing amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

For more information about healthy school meals, visit www.TrayTalk.org.

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association is made up of over 2,900 school foodservice professionals working hard to help children by advancing school nutrition programs in our state.

SOURCE Minnesota School Nutrition Association