Local school officials decide which foods and meals schools serve, according to HowStuffWorks. However, the majority of schools follow minimum standards set by the National School Lunch Program.Continue Reading
The National School Lunch Program offers free or low-cost meals to millions of students, and schools enrolled in this program must adhere to certain guidelines. As of January 2015, no more than 30 percent of calories are allowed to come from fat, less than 10 percent of calories can be from saturated fat, and meals must offer one-third of daily dietary recommendations for protein, calories, calcium and other nutrients, according to HowStuffWorks.
School districts that do not follow the national program can develop their own programs. For example, some use the Farm-to-School Program to collaborate with area farms, according to HowStuffWorks.Learn more about K-12