Why do school lunches seem so high in starch?
The school lunch pattern requires schools to serve eight bread or bread alternates per week. This regulation came about as a result of the dietary guideline for Americans to increase our consumption of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, breads, pasta and cereal products contain many essential nutrients in addition to calories. At the base of the Food Guide Pyramid are breads, cereals, rice and pasta – all foods from grains. The average American diet is low in dietary fiber which should include 6 – 11 servings of these foods from grain each day.
The school lunch pattern requires schools to serve eight bread or bread alternates per week. This regulation came about as a result of the dietary guideline for Americans to increase our consumption of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, breads, pasta and cereal products contain many essential nutrients in addition to calories. At the base of the Food Guide Pyramid are breads, cereals, rice and pasta — all foods from grains. The average American diet is low in dietary fiber which should include 6-11 servings of these foods from grain each day. Texas Bread was added to the lunch menu this year. This thick bread slice is equivalent to 1 slices of regular bread and helps contribute to a higher intake of grain products.
