WASHINGTON, Oct 21, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Recommendations by the Institute
of Medicine are expected to makeover U.S. school lunches and breakfast,
nutrition advocates said.
Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director of the Center for Science in the
Public Interest in Washington, said schools shouldn't wait for U.S. Department
of Agriculture's final regulations to implement Institute of Medicine's sensible
new school meal standards.
"The USDA should help schools work toward the new standards, so by the time they
are required schools are already most of the way there," Wootan said in a
statement. "When Congress reauthorizes child nutrition legislation, it also
should give USDA and school districts the resources and support they need to
make these healthier meals appeal even to the most finicky of young eaters."
The recommendations, which the Agriculture Department will write into
regulations, will increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in
school meals; reduce the content of sodium and trans fat; and ensure that the
milk is low or no fat, Wootan said.
The changes will help address the biggest problems in children's diets and
foster healthier eating habits, advocates said. However, the Institute of
Medicine unfortunately didn't recommend limits on added sugars, Wootan said.
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