FOOD SERVICES
School Nutrition
Tennessee's School Nutrition program is responsible for providing nutritious meals and snacks for students in public and private schools, as well as residential and child care institutions. School Nutrition administers the USDA's National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Afterschool Snack Program across the state. All public schools in Tennessee are on the National School Lunch Program, which provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.
Nutrition standards set forth by the USDA require most schools to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat fluid milk in school meals; reduce the levels of sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat in meals; and meet the nutritional needs of school children within their calorie requirements.
For a detailed description of these federal requirements, see the Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
For Parents: Learn more about free and reduced-priced meal eligibility and read answers to frequently asked questions.
Nutrition standards set forth by the USDA require most schools to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat fluid milk in school meals; reduce the levels of sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat in meals; and meet the nutritional needs of school children within their calorie requirements.
For a detailed description of these federal requirements, see the Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
For Parents: Learn more about free and reduced-priced meal eligibility and read answers to frequently asked questions.
