State Of School Nutrition – 2009 Survey
According to results from the School Nutrition Association’s comprehensive “School Nutrition Operations Report: The State of School Nutrition 2009,” healthy options are becoming increasingly common in lunch programs around the country. Specifically, availability of vegetarian menu items increased by 12.4% since 2007.
Healthy food options have become more prevalent on school lunch menus since the previous survey, which was conducted in 2007. Specific offerings within school districts include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables – 98.8%
- Whole grain items – 96.3%
- Salad bars or pre-packaged salads – 91.1%
- Yogurt and yogurt drinks – 87.9%
- From scratch-baked items – 74.2%
- Vegetarian meals – 63.9%