PrintIn a joint effort with the Michele Obama, the USDA has been making an effort to enhance the health of school lunches. The limitations on school lunches would have involved a significant restriction on the volume of potatoes that might be served. The U.S. Senate, however, has been blocked by the Senate. Article source: Potatoes will stay in schools, for now
Attempting to keep spuds away
The United States DOA proposed some new guidelines. This would impact all schools that are part of the Federal lunch program. Spuds in breakfasts would be prohibited. Also, all “starchy vegetables” including peas, spuds, corn and lima beans would be constrained to one more than one cup a week. The goal was to increase the number of leafy greens and colorful vegetables served.
Can be a poor choice
The U.S. Senate voted on Tues to block all of the brand new USDA regulations. The 2012 spending bill for the Agriculture Department has an amendment on it. It obstructed these regulations. Part of the amendment does not allow the USDA to set "any maximum limitations on the serving of vegetables in school meal programs." This move angered nutritional reformers seeking to change school nutrition but was a boon for lobbyists for Maine, Idaho and other major potato-producing states.
Attempting to keep schools nutritious
Spuds are only party incorporated in the fight against kid obesity. Several are hoping to serve students only healthy food in school. Because of the National School Lunch Program, schools get good reimbursements. They can get between 26 cents and $2.77 per meal. School lunches have become a focus of several looking to reform how children eat. Spuds and vegetables are fried and breaded at most institutions. This is done instead of boiling or baking them. Potatoes are naturally low-fat and high in potassium but do contain simple carbohydrates. There are not lots of freshly prepared opportunities. It seems like there are lots of packaged and pre-prepared foods.
Articles cited
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-10-16/senators-usda-p...
BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15377913
NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/us/politics/potatoes-get-senate-protec...
ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/US/usda-proposal-cuts-potatoes-schools/story?id=13...
Food Research and Action Center: http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/school-breakfast-and-lunc...
