By: Alana Williams, MS, School Nutrition Consultant
As the school year is underway, here’s a reminder about the important updates the USDA has introduced to school nutrition programs. These changes are designed to help schools serve healthier, more balanced meals. Here’s a quick update on what’s new and how you can adjust your menus to stay on track:
Sweet Changes: Limits on Added Sugars
Starting July 1, 2025, here’s what you’ll need to keep in mind:
Breakfast Cereals: Less than 6 grams of added sugar per ounce.
Yogurts: No more than 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces.
Flavored Milks: Capped at 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounces.
Pro Tip: Shift towards savory breakfast items and reduce high-sugar offerings. Homemade granola and baked goods sweetened with applesauce can be great alternatives. This training guide can be a great resource on ways to reduce added sugars in breakfast meals.
Keeping It Sweet and Balanced: Weekly Sugar Limits
By July 1, 2027, the USDA will limit added sugars to less than 10% of total calories per week in school lunches and breakfasts. This means balancing your menus and opting for less sugary items will be key.
Grains and Meat/Meat Alternates: New Flexibility
Good news for breakfast! Schools can now combine grains with meat or meat alternates. The daily 1-ounce grain requirement is no longer necessary, so you can substitute with meat or meat alternates if needed.
Veggies Over Fruit: New Breakfast Options
Once a week, you can swap fruits with any vegetables at breakfast without worrying about subgroup requirements. If you do this more than once a week, make sure the vegetables come from at least two different vegetable subgroups. For this school year, you have the flexibility to use any vegetables in place of fruits.
Sodium: The Final Countdown
Current sodium limits stay until the 2026-2027 school year. But starting July 1, 2027, limits will drop by 15% for lunch and 10% for breakfast. To stay ahead, consider using lower sodium versions of your usual products, flavoring foods with herbs and spices, and preparing more items from scratch.
Nuts and Seeds: Full Credit
You can now count nuts and seeds fully toward the Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA) component, removing the previous 50% restriction.
Beans, Peas, and Lentils: What’s New?
The USDA is updating the terminology to “beans, peas, and lentils.” Beans can now count as both an M/MA component and towards the weekly beans subgroup requirement. However, beans can only be credited towards one overall weekly meal component—either as a vegetable or an M/MA.
Let’s Embrace the Changes Together!
Change can be challenging, but it’s all about improving the nutritional health of our students. Remember, it’s not just about meeting regulations—it’s about making sure our kids enjoy and benefit from what’s on their plates. At Pisanick Partners, we’re here to support ideas and resources as we navigate these new regulations together.
You’ve got this! Find additional USDA resources here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates.
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