b'Potatoes Raise The Bar At School BreakfastsRachael Lynch, Global Marketing Manager,Potatoes USARules around school meals changed Across the U.S. population, the aver-nineyearsagowhentheHealthy, age intake of all vegetables is belowHunger-FreeKidsActof2010was theamountsrecommendedintheimplemented, an act created to fund DGA,eventhatofstarchyvegeta-child nutrition programs across the bles.Withinthestarchyvegetablecountry.Theactallowsthe group, there are several nutrients ofDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA) concern (NoC) that school-age chil-the opportunity to make reforms to dren lack. NoC are specific nutrientsthe school lunch and breakfast pro- thatareunder-consumedandcur-gramsbyimprovingnutritionand rent intakes may pose a substantialhungersafety-netformillionsof public health concern. There are 10children. The act enables schools to NoClistedandofthose,fivearereceivefederalreimbursementfor found in potatoes: potassium (15%mealsthatfollowtheDietary DV), dietary fiber (7% DV), magne-USA PotatoesGuidelines for America1 (DGA) and sium (6% DV), iron (6% DV), andare served to qualifying students. vitamin C (30% DV).TheUSDAschoolnutritionstan- To look at school foodservice opera-dardsatbreakfastspecifythat torsunderstandingoftheschoolMessageschools are required to offer fruit to nutrition standards and how pota-students.Whilevegetablesarenot toes fit into breakfast, a survey wasrequired, this rule gives schools the conductedbytheNationalPotatooption to offer vegetables in place of Council.Surveyresultsindicatedtherequiredfruitcomponent. thatfoodserviceoperators(92%)However, the first two cups of any believe potatoes at breakfast wouldsuch substitution must be from the helpincreasestudentsconsump-DGAs dark green, red and orange, tion of NoC and be used to intro-beans and peas (legumes) or other duce kids to other types of vegeta-vegetablesubgroupsinother bles (90%). words,everyvegetablesubgroupother than starchy, where the pota- Duetolanguageincludedintheto falls.AgricultureAppropriationsbill6 POTATO GROWER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019'