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Resource | Policy Requirement to Accept Medical Statements from Registered Dietitians for Schools and Child and Adult Care Institutions and Facilities

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that included minor updates to CACFP and SFSP to better align child nutrition program requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutritional quality of school meals, strengthening the CNPs, and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security. 

12/30/2024
Resource | Policy Request for Information: Grain-Based Desserts and High-Protein Yogurt Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service requests comments from the public to obtain input to help inform future policymaking, guidance, and technical assistance related to grain-based desserts and high-protein yogurt crediting in child nutrition programs.

12/26/2024
Basic page School Breakfast Program Menu Planning

Healthy school meals are a critical part of the school environment – like teachers, classrooms, books, and computers – and set kids up for success. These resources can help school breakfast program operators plan nutritious meals that can help improve a child’s health, growth, development, and educational outcomes.

12/19/2024
Basic page NSLP Short and Long Week Meal Pattern Calculations

Meal pattern calculations for short and long weeks. This applies to schools who regularly operate on a shorter or longer weekly cycle.

12/04/2024
Resource | Policy Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide state agencies and program operators of the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, with additional information and clarification on the state agency monitoring process regarding the: 1) Child nutrition label, 2) watermarked CN label, and 3) manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement.

11/07/2024
Resource | Policy Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tribal Communities

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While most provisions in the 2024 final rule focus on the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, this rule also includes limited updates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program to better align child nutrition programs requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutritional quality of meals offered through the CNPs and meeting cultural food preferences of program participants. 

10/30/2024
Resource | Policy Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households AKA The Study of Household Insights and Nutritional Experiences (SHINE)

This new collection will provide key information from a large representative sample of SNAP households to enable FNS to examine how SNAP households change through time.

10/18/2024
Resource | Research and Data FY 2023 Reported SNAP Application Processing Timeliness

Fiscal year 2023 SNAP reported application processing timeliness rates. 

07/31/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance School Lunch and Breakfast Sodium Limits and Timeline

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program sodium limits and timeline

07/01/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern

Meal pattern chart for the School Breakfast Program

07/01/2024
Page updated: October 14, 2021