New School Lunch Standards Take Effect In Montclair

School districts across the country, including Montclair's, will bring new meaning to the "apple a day" saying this school year as nationally mandated school lunch standards take effect.

The new lunch standards aimed at reducing obesity, introduced in January by First Lady Michelle Obama, finally have been implemented. 

In Montclair, the district's food provider, Chartwells School Dining Services, contacted parents this week to highlight some of the planned changes and new requirements in the district.

1) Increased portions of fruits and vegetables. A fruit and/or vegetable must be one of the selected items to complete the meal.

2) Age-appropriate portions of protein and grain. At least 50 percent of all grains offered must be whole grain-rich.

3) Lower sodium levels in meals and a reduction of fat and saturated fats.

In June, the Montclair Board of Education unanimously voted to keep Chartwells as its school lunch provider.

In April, the school board had approved an almost $10,000 contract with a consulting firm to help put together a request for proposal for someone to take over the district's food service operation.

School Board Member Tanya Coke, who serves on the board's food service committee, said at the time that the nutritional quality of food had improved last year—although student participation in the lunch program had not gone up markedly.

In the end, though, school board members decided to go once again with Chartwells, noting that the district planned to work with the company to boost participation rates.

According to Chartwells, here are the additional improved nutritional standards being implemented in the Montclair Public School District starting this week:

1) Whole muscle meat chicken.

2) No artificial sweeteners.

3) 100 percent whole grain in bakery products.

4) Continue to increase the offerings of fresh fruit and vegetables.

5) No HFCS in lunch entrees.

6) Reduction in the use of processed foods.

7) Introduction of fresh-carved deli meats and meats with less sodium, fat, and nitrates.

8) Continue to increase the usage of produce which are locally grown.

9) Reduction in the amount of pizza offered at the high school and middle schools.

10) Daily vegetarian meals at all schools.

11) Fresh fruit and vegetable bars at all schools.

"We look forward to another successful year of serving nutritious and delicious meals to all our students, teachers, and staff," said Sean Walsh, Chartwells' director of dining services. "Chartwells is proud to be part of the Montclair School Community."

For more information about what's on offer from Chartwells in Montclair, go here.

To read more about school lunches at Montclair High School, read this recent blog by student Lauren Glasse.

What do you think of the new standards? Let us know in the comments section below.

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