Revised Nutrition Guidelines Maintain High Standards for School Food at SFUSD

The SFUSD Nutrition Guidelines, developed by Student Nutrition Services (SNS) with input from child nutrition experts, describe the minimum standards for all foods and beverages, including the type and amount of fat, sodium, sugar, calories, and other nutrients and food qualities. These guidelines were recently updated to align with the Good Food Purchasing Policy, provide more culturally relevant meals, incorporate the latest research on child health and nutrition, and include guidance for adults. 

Download SFUSD Nutrition Guidelines

These updates are a revision to guidelines last published in 2015. SFUSD is proud to have some of the highest standards for school nutrition in the country. Our Nutrition Guidelines meet or exceed the standards outlined in federal, state, and local policies established by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and California Department of Education (CDE). 

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the changes that were made.

Now Aligns with the Good Food Purchasing Policy
In June 2016, SFUSD became the second district in the nation to adopt the Good Food Purchasing Policy (GFPP). SFUSD adopted the policy to ensure our food procurement aligns with district values and public funds are maximally benefiting the local community, environment, and economy. The Guidelines prioritize GFPP values, such as our commitment to purchasing quality meat and poultry products, and ensuring all poultry is raised without the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics. Learn more in section 2A and 2B of the Nutrition Guidelines.

Now Allows for White Rice
School lunches will now be served with white instead of brown rice. Through feedback and surveys, students have voiced that they prefer white rice. In July 2019, the USDA updated the whole grain standards for the National School Lunch Program, which allows us to serve enriched white rice, a product with a similar nutrition profile to brown rice. The transition to white rice is the only change being made to the grain products on our menu. All other grain products will continue to be whole grain-rich. See section 2E and learn more about our switch to white rice.

Includes the Latest Research on Child Nutrition
The Nutrition Guidelines maintain the restrictions on sugary beverages. Health and nutrition experts, including the World Health Organization, American Heart Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend reducing consumption of added sugars for long-term health. As of January 2018, SFUSD only serves plain nonfat or 1% milk. Any reference to flavored nonfat milk was removed. Likewise, the Guidelines maintain that juice is prohibited. See Section 3 for Compliant Beverage Standards and Prohibited Beverages.

Includes Guidance for School Adults
SFUSD cares about the well-being of staff members and understands the influence that their actions can have on student health behaviors. The recommendations for school adults are aligned to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the City of San Francisco’s Healthy and Sustainable Food Policy Nutrition Guidelines, the Good Food Purchasing Program, and the quality standards for foods provided to SFUSD students. See Section 5 for Recommendations for Adult Foods.

We hope this is a helpful resource for the SFUSD community! As always, we’d love your feedback: SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu. 

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