Idaho schools will offer healthier school lunch menu this fall

Idaho students will see less chicken nuggets, Tater Tots, French fries and chicken patties on the school lunch menu this fall.

And the ranch dressing many kids relied on to spice up virtually all their entrees? It will still be available, but in small portions, says Heidi Martin, coordinator of Child Nutrition Programs for the state Department of Education.

The preference is to serve fresh fruit and vegetables. If students are served canned vegetables, the veggies must be low in sodium. Canned fruit will be served in light syrup, Martin said.

The changes are happening as the state implements new nutritional standards for school meals for virtually all public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade, she said.

"While many Idaho schools already serve nutritious, balanced meals every day, these new nutrition standards will ensure Idaho leads the nation in our efforts to improve the health and wellness for all Idaho children year," Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said in a news release.

In 2008, the State Department of Education's Child Nutrition Programs worked with food-service professionals and dietitians from across Idaho to develop 14 new nutrition standards based on a publication from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA, which manages the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, is updating its dietary requirements in a partnership with the Institute of Medicine.

Under the new standards, all Idaho schools participating in the National School Lunch Program will:

* Serve more foods with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, low-fat milk and lean protein

* Limit foods high in fat, sodium or sugar

* Stop providing salt shakers, sugar packets, deep-fat fried foods.

To help schools throughout the transition, the department has created guidance, recipe ideas and 14 training videos, which are all available online.

In addition, the department has created information specifically for parents so they can offer more healthy choices to their children at home.

To learn more about the new nutrition standards, please visit http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/cnp/