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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRIMS THE FAT MIAMI - Miami-Dade County Public Schools has “trimmed the fat” from the lunch menu. The District’s Department of Food and Nutrition’s new menu is aligned with the District’s strategic goal to improve the health of students as an important component to ensure the achievement of high academic standards for all students. This year’s menu features everything from fajita chicken tortilla wraps to Asian chicken salads. Ethnic dishes include “arroz con garbanzos” (rice with chick peas), Spanish-style chicken fricassee, and roasted pork in addition to the popular “arroz con pollo” (chicken with rice) and “picadillo” (Spanish-style ground beef). Schools will offer a variety of milk including reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), skim milk or chocolate-flavored (0.5 percent) milk. The department voluntarily discontinued whole milk because the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend whole milk for children over the age of two. Strawberry-flavored milk also will be discontinued due to the significantly high sugar content and the connection to childhood obesity. These changes will reduce fat by three - eight grams daily, depending on the milk. Regular American cheese will be replaced with “light” cheese, trimming the fat content by about 50 percent resulting in 30 percent fewer calories and reducing sodium by 76 percent. In addition, white –flour crust pizza will be replaced with whole-grain crust pizza using lower fat cheese topping. Hot dog and hamburger buns will be made with whole-wheat flour. The 100 percent fruit juices are now fortified with vitamin C and calcium. Tastings and recipe testing are conducted for menu committee members at several school sites to ensure that stakeholders’ input is received before items are offered on the menu. The department strives to deliver excellence in the food and nutrition program while enhancing the learning possibilities of each student to achieve highest academic standards. ### 05-LJG/020/DF |
