Dietary Specifications

The dietary specifications are the U.S. Department of Aquiculture's weekly nutrition standards for the lunch and breakfast meal patterns for grades K-12. School meals as averaged over the week must meet the dietary specifications for calories (minimum and maximum levels) and limits for saturated fat and sodium.

The dietary specifications for each meal and grade group are indicated at the bottom of the NSLP and SBP meal patterns. For detailed guidance on meeting the dietary specifications, refer to the CSDE's Guide to the Dietary Specifications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns for Grades K-12.

Overview  |   Added Sugars  |   Calories  |   Saturated Fat  |   Sodium

Overview

• Dietary Specifications for Grade Groups (chapter 2 of the USDA's Menu Planner for School Meals)
• Final Rule: Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (77 FR 4087)
• Guide to the Dietary Specifications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
• Nutrition Standards for School Meals (School Nutrition Assocation)
• Nutrition Standards for School Meals (USDA webpage)
• Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE): Refer to the sections for "Limiting Added Sugars," "Limiting Fat," and "Limiting Sodium"
• USDA Memo SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022

Added Sugars

Effective July 1, 2027, the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, requires a new weekly dietary specification for added sugars in school meals. By school year 2027-28, added sugars must be less than 10 percent of calories per week. This weekly limit is in addition to the product-based limits for breakfast cereals, yogurt, and flavored milk that are effective July 1, 2025. For more information, visit the "Upcoming Meal Pattern Changes" section of this webpage.

• Added Sugars (USDA webpage)
• Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast (USDA)
• Spanish version: Reducir los azúcares añadidos en el desayuno escolar

Calories

• Increasing or decreasing calories in school meals: Guide to the Dietary Specifications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators (refer to "Calories")
• Weekly Calorie Ranges for School Meals for Grades K-12 in the NSLP and SBP (CSDE)

Saturated Fat

• About Oils (USDA MyPlate)
• Reducing saturated fat in school meals: Guide to the Dietary Specifications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns for Grades K-12(CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators

Sodium

• Be Salt Smart (USDA MyPlate)
• Fact Sheet: Reducing Sodium in the Diets of American Children (American Heart Association)
• Lowering Sodium in School Lunches (American Heart Association)
• Reducing sodium in school meals: Guide to the Dietary Specifications for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
• Shaking It Up: Small Changes Lead to Big Flavors (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• USDA Sodium Reduction Requirements
  • CSDE Summary Handout: Sodium Limits for the NSLP and SBP Meal Patterns for School Meals for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
  • Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium – Final Rule (USDA webpage)
  • Final Rule: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium (87 FR 6984)
  • USDA Memo SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators (refer to "Calories and Trans Fat")
• What's Shaking in School Meals? (USDA)