The Cherokee County School District’s School Nutrition program is updating meals served in school cafeterias. As a part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s New Meal Pattern, school meals will offer foods and portion sizes recommended by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, school officials say.

Most changes start this school year. Changes include: more whole grain rich-foods; more fruits and increased varieties of vegetables; low-fat and fat-free milk choices; sodium reductions and trans-fats removed; and age-appropriate portion sizes.

“We have been making these changes over the past few years. As a result many of the requirements have already been met,” CCSD School Nutrition Supervisor Susan Turner said. “We want our students to have a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, which will help support a healthy lifestyle.”

The New Meal Pattern raises nutrition standards in schools across the nation and is expected to play a key part of improving the health and nutrition of more than 32 million students nationwide, including the 1.59 million students statewide in Georgia.

“We are working diligently to ensure that school nutrition professionals are ready to start applying these positive changes to school meals this year,” Georgia School Nutrition Division Director Nancy Rice said. “Our state has successfully trained School Nutrition Directors for each local school district. We will also continue to provide resourceful materials so that the implementation of healthier meals will also foster a conversation about healthy food choices at school and at home.”