Many schools in the U.S. are implementing healthy practices to help meet federal school meal standards by offering whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, and reducing sodium content, according to data published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC researchers analyzed school-level data from the School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) for 2000, 2006, and 2014 to see how well schools are implementing practices related to the nutrition standards for school meals published by USDA in 2012. The standards require serving more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and gradually reducing sodium over 10 years.