Latest news with #FreshFruitandVegetableProgram
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
8 takeaways from Hawaiʻi's top ranking for school lunches
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 2025 State of School Lunch Report shows Hawaiʻi is one of the best states in the country for healthy school lunches. Hawaiʻi earned a score of 76 out of 100 and ranked second, just behind Vermont. This ranking reflects the quality of meals and nutrition programs offered in Hawaiʻi schools when compared to other states across the country. Higher bills ahead: Honolulu City Council OKs sewer fee hike in $5.1B budget The report evaluated states based on several important factors. These include: Farm to school programs. Fresh fruit and vegetable availability. Serving local foods. School gardens. Reduction of sugary drink consumption. Hawaiʻi performed very well across most of these categories. Here's what we know from the report: Hawaiʻi leads the nation with 99.6% of schools participating in farm to school programs, according to the report. These programs connect students to fresh, locally sourced foods. Students learn about nutrition and get to eat meals made from ingredients grown nearby. The report indicated that this high level of participation shows a strong commitment to healthy eating in Hawaiʻi schools. More than 99% of Hawaiʻi schools serve local foods to their students, the report said. Using local fruits, vegetables and other ingredients supports sustainable farming and ensures students receive fresher, more nutritious 65% of Hawaiʻi school food authorities participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, the report found. This initiative offers free fruits and vegetables to students during the school day. Access to these fresh foods helps children build healthy eating habits and reduces risks of diet-related illnesses. The report measures how many children eat vegetables daily and how many avoid sugary drinks. Eating vegetables regularly supports balanced diets and healthy growth. Limiting sugary drinks helps prevent childhood obesity and dental problems. On the flip side of these achievements, the report found that Hawaiʻi's participation in school gardens is not the highest nationally. It has been found that the use of edible gardens in schools helps students learn about where food comes from. Gardens give children hands-on experience growing plants and encourage healthier food choices. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Vermont ranked first with a score of 82. Vermont stands out for its school gardens, with 39% of schools having edible gardens. Washington, D.C. ranked third with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables and local food offerings. These areas, along with Hawaiʻi, set examples for improving school lunch nutrition. Some states scored much lower. Oklahoma, Mississippi and South Dakota ranked at the bottom, with less participation in farm to school programs and fewer schools serving fresh fruits and vegetables. The report found that these things demonstrate there is work to do nationwide to improve the health of school meals. 'Access to nutritious school lunches and nutrition education is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation's children,' said Stephanie Morris, senior vice president of ProCare Therapy. The report highlighted how better meals help students grow, focus and learn. You can click to read the full report. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Offering nutritious, tasty and fresh meals helps students thrive in school and beyond, the report said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Government launches ambitious new plan to revamp school cafeteria meals nationwide: 'Countless benefits'
In a major win for students, families, and the planet, the Spanish government has approved a landmark royal decree that will overhaul school cafeteria menus across the country. The initiative, called Healthy and Sustainable School Cafeterias, promises to bring more nutritious, affordable, and climate-friendly meals to students — while offering long-overdue support for families and farmers alike. The law ensures that all students — whether they attend public, state-subsidized, or private schools — will receive five healthy meals a week, regardless of household income. Fresh fruits and vegetables will be a daily staple, with at least 45% of the produce sourced seasonally, benefiting local farmers and reducing the environmental impact of food transport. Perhaps most notably, the law protects the right of children to access 100% plant-based meals. If schools cannot provide this directly, they are required to offer safe storage and reheating options for meals brought from home. Weekly servings of legumes will also increase, aligning school meals with the recommendations of leading health and science institutions. "It's entirely feasible to bring healthier, more sustainable, plant-based menus to school cafeterias," said Verónica Larco, communications director at ProVeg España. "This initiative not only develops high-quality menus but also reduces their costs, demonstrating the countless benefits." The legislation is designed to help address childhood obesity — an issue that disproportionately affects children from low-income families — while also lowering the environmental footprint of school meals. By prioritizing plant-based and locally sourced foods, Spain is showing how school policy can support both public health and climate goals. This move mirrors global efforts to promote healthier, greener school food. Initiatives including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Germany's School Plates, and the United Kingdom's School Food Standards are similarly working to improve children's nutrition while reducing pollution from industrial agriculture. And thanks to the European Green Deal, more funding is expected for programs that boost sustainable food systems continent-wide. With this decree, Spain is building a healthier future for its youngest citizens — one school lunch at a time. What single change would make the biggest dent in your personal food waste? Not buying food I don't need Freezing my food before it goes bad Using my leftovers more effectively Composting my food scraps Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NYC ditches fresh fruit and veggie snacks in schools after federal cuts to USDA: ‘A shame'
A program that provided NYC students with fresh fruit and vegetable snacks is being cancelled for the rest of the year, The Post has learned. 'Unfortunately, due to a funding issue, NYC will be unable to continue the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year,' said a city Department of Education notice sent to elementary school parents in Brooklyn this week. 'Students will still receive their fruits and veggies at lunch,' but will not get an additional snack three days a week, according to the note. The change will take effect on March 31 in more than 50 city schools part of the federal program, which cost $1,179,000 this school year, records show. 'It would be a shame if kids don't get that extra fruit,' a Harlem mom told The Post. 'For some of the kids in our communities, the only fruit they might have is at school.' Parents said their kids typically receive an apple, banana or bag of cucumbers or carrots with Ranch dressing as a snack. Other choices have included cantaloupe, grapes, honeydew, kiwi and pineapple, said a DOE source. 'I've heard they might be replaced with canned fruits or applesauce,' the insider said. It's unclear what, if anything, will replace the fresh veggie snacks. The move follows the US Department of Agriculture announcement this week that it is cutting $1 billion in federal funding to provide schools and food banks fresh, locally sourced produce. It is one of the latest efforts the Trump administration claims will eliminate waste in the federal government. Schools with at least 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals generally qualify for the program, according to the USDA. Ironically, most of 279,000 cases of apples worth $5.5 million went to waste last summer after the city DOE ordered three times more of the fruit from the USDA than it needed, The Post reported. Kitchen staff have urged the DOE's Office of Food and Nutrition Services to prioritize kids' favorite fruit and veggie items, but it continues over-paying costly distributors for unpopular items, a cafeteria insider told The Post. Since July, the city has been overcharged an estimated $1.2 million for produce including squash, apples, oranges, grapefruit, bananas and herbs like cilantro at distributors' rates instead of at market value, the whistleblower said. 'These funds could be better utilized to procure higher-quality fruits and vegetables, rather than having them go to waste.' The funding for the extra snacks of fresh fruit is expected to resume next school year, another DOE source said. Sources at several city schools confirmed the fresh fruit decrease, but DOE spokeswoman Jenna Lyle denied any cutback. 'Everyday we are ensuring that our students have access to nutritious and delicious meals, and we will continue to prioritize providing nutritious, healthy food for our students amid any changes in federal funds,' she said.
