Abstract
A recent series of emails and phone calls from parents concerned about the sugar content of Houston Independent School District’s school breakfasts revealed that a new issue had risen to the surface. This prompted us to look closely at the sugar content of our breakfast items. School districts participating in the National School Breakfast Program follow a strict set of nutritional regulations set forth by the USDA under the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 in response to the childhood obesity epidemic. HHFKA made significant changes to the breakfast meal pattern, but did not set standards for the sugar content. Whether this is an oversight or the authors of the law intentionally did not limit sugar, the result is the same: lower fat, higher carbohydrate school breakfast meals. Herein, we would like to provide the perspective of a school food service organization concerning sugar in breakfast, and present the challenges and efforts made to provide students with healthy, well-balanced school breakfasts.
Key Take Away Points
- School districts participating in the National School Breakfast Program follow a strict set of nutritional regulations set forth by the USDA under the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 in response to the childhood obesity epidemic.
- HHFKA made significant changes to the breakfast meal pattern, but did not set standards for the sugar content which has resulted in lower fat, higher carbohydrate school breakfast meals.
- Despite numerous obstacles, Houston ISD Nutrition Services strives to reduce added sugars while operating a program within budgetary constraints and with menu items that the students will consume.
- If the public and parents desire more reduction in the sugar content of breakfast, seeking policy changes at the federal level would be required.
- Updates in the Nutrition Facts Labels to distinguish added sugars and a change in the food industry to reformulate items with less added sugar and savory products with higher protein and adequate calories are needed.
- We will continue to listen to our communities concerns and to seek solutions in order to serve students the most nutritious breakfast meals.
Author Biography
Jennifer G. Lengyel MS, RDN, LD is the current Nutrition Education Dietitian for Houston ISD Nutrition Services Department. Nan Cramer RDN, LD is the current Community Outreach Dietitian for Houston ISD Nutrition Services Department. Amanda Oceguera MS, RDN, LD is the current Nutrition Manager for Houston ISD Nutrition Services Department. Lana Pigao is the current Communications Director for Houston ISD Nutrition Services Department.
Recommended Citation
Lengyel, Jennifer G. MS, RDN, LD; Cramer, Nan RDN, LD; Oceguera, Amanda MS, RDN, LD; Pigao, Lana MA; and Houston Independent School District, Nutrition Services Department
(2015)
"Sugar In School Breakfasts: A School District's Perspective,"
Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 6:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58464/2155-5834.1274
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol6/iss2/7
