School lunches are now packing a more nutritious punch with the addition of more fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats and whole grains. The new national standard behind this change is part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act championed by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of her "Let’s Move!" health and wellness campaign, which took effect this July 1.

The new meal requirements raise standards for the first time in more than 15 years and are designed to improve the nutrition and health of the more than 31 million children and teens who participate in the school lunch program across the nation each day. New nutrition standards for meals prepared at public and nonprofit private schools will be phased in over three years, beginning with lunch. Changes to breakfast and snacks served in school will happen over the next two years.

This summer, the BOCES Communications Service took up the challenge of helping local school districts communicate with their families, students and staff about the sound health and educational reasons behind the recent changes to school meals. This colorful infographic is just one of the user-friendly communications tools that are part of the package of resources school districts like Middleburgh and Mohonasen are now using to educate their communities in public presentations, as handouts, in print publications and on the web.

A healthy change in school lunches