Healthy Changes Coming to Stoughton Public School Cafeterias in 2012-2013

The following is a letter posted on the Stoughton Pubic Schools website by Ed Gilbert, the Director of Food Services for the Stoughton Public Schools, discussing the changes to cafeteria menus this upcoming school year to meet the demands of the new federal nutrition standards for school meals.

Stoughton Patch will have more on these changes prior to the start of school. The first day of the in Stoughton for students in grades 1-12 is Wednesday, September 5, 2012.  Kindergarten starts Friday, September 7.

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Dear Stoughton Public Schools Families,

This fall the ’ cafeterias are meeting the demands of tough new federal nutrition standards for school meals. We are ensuring that our meals are healthy, well-balanced and provide students the proper nutrition they need to succeed in school.  Now is a great time to encourage your kids to choose school lunch!

School meals offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, and proteins and grains, and they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size.

Starting September 5, 2012 our school lunches will meet additional standards requiring:

Age-appropriate calorie limits Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce) A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red/orange vegetables and legumes Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-free) More whole grains Less sodium
We’re always working to offer our students healthier and tastier choices.  

The Stoughton Food Services Program has been making great strides over the past several years to get your children ready for these changes. Last year we offered all whole grain rolls and breads, and a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables. We also reduced salt and sugars in all of our meal options.

School meals are a great value and convenient for busy families. Rest assured, we have complete meals offered daily that meet strict guidelines and are appealing to your children.

We also offer a convenient on line payment system so you know your child always has money in his/her meal account. The price of a school lunch is $2.00 K – 5th grade students and $2.25 for students in grades 6 – 12. Reduced priced lunches are $0.40 cents.  All meals come with 8 oz. milk, vegetable, fruit, main entrée and a whole grain option.

We are expanding breakfast programs in our five elementary schools for the 2012 / 2013 school year. Breakfast is $1.00 K-12 and a reduced priced breakfast is $0.30 cents. All breakfast meals come with: 8 oz. milk, 4 oz. juice, a whole grain option and a protein.

We look forward to welcoming your children to our cafeterias this fall.  To find out more about our healthy school meals visit our website at: http://www.stoughtonschools.org/

If you have any questions about the lunch program please contact me: e_gilbert@stoughtonschools.org

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