Nutritional Facts & Guidelines

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You can start by taking a quick but informative quiz pertaining to school nutrition guidelines. We also invite you to take time to scan interesting news articles regarding recent events concerning the subject of school nutrition. In addition we have Maine and Federal Guidelines to address your hard-to-answer school nutrition questions.

Nutrition Quiz

Question:  Is ketchup considered a vegetable?

Fact:   No! In the 1980's the Reagan Administration tried and failed to get ketchup added to the list of approved vegetables.

FMI: www.straightdope.com

Question:  Is salsa considered a vegetable?

Fact:  Yes! In 1998 the Clinton administration successfully made the list for approved vegetables for school lunches. Salsa was approved as a more interesting option for school children. Salsa is less processed then boiled veggies or fruit in thick syrup according to David Schardt, associate nutritionist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

FMI: http://www.jsonline.com/alive/nutrition/0701salsa.stm

Question:  How many servings of each type of food do school age children need to be healthy?

Fact:  6oz serving of GRAINS per day, 2.5 cups of VEGETABLES, 2 cups of FRUIT, 3 cups of MILK, 5.5oz of MEAT & BEANS.

FMI: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/schoolage/schoolagenutrition.html

Question:  Can soda and junk food be sold during the day- either in a vending machine or by students?

Fact:  No! ''Any food or beverage sold during the normal school day on school property of a school participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs shall be a planned part of the total food service program of the school and shall include only those items which contribute both to the nutritional needs of children and the development of desirable food habits. Funds from all food and beverage sales during the normal school day on school property shall accrue to the benefit of the school's non-profit school food service program; except that the local school board may establish, by policy, a process whereby a school or approved student organization is allowed to benefit from the sale of such foods and beverages.'' Maine's Competitive food rules.

FMI: http://www.maine.gov/education/sfs/comfood.htm

Question:  True or False: A serving of meat is approximately the size of a CD

Fact:  False: One serving size is approximately the size of a deck of cards.

Question:  Compared to school lunch, how many students eat breakfast at school?

Fact: Only about 1 in 4 students eat breakfast at school.

FMI: www.maine.gov/education/sfs/nsbp.htm

Question: What percentage of Maine high school students report consuming 5 or more servings of Fruits and Vegetables?

Fact:  Only 25% of Maine's students report eating 5 or more servings a day of Fruits and Veggies.

FMI: Maine Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2001

and www.maine-nutrition.org/5aday.htm

Question:   Which group of students has the highest percentage of members meeting the dietary recommendations for calcium?

Boys 2 to 8

Girls 2 to 8

Boys 9 to 19

Girls 9 to 19

Fact:  Surprisingly, it's Boys 2 to 8 with 88%

The other groups:

Girls 2 to 8: 79%

Boys 9 to 19: 52%,

Girls 9 to 19: 19%