Find a Doctor Employment at WakeMed Events & Education For Physicians For Employees Contact Us

Health Care Encyclopedia

Health Information Encyclopedia - Nutrition


School lunch programs

Definition:

The nutritional goal of the school lunch program is to provide children a meal that contains approximately one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). The lunches provide one-third of the RDA when averaged over time -- not at each meal.



Function:



Food Sources:



Side Effects:



Recommendations:

Every school lunch program is different. To find out more about the program in your community, request menus from your child�s school. If the meals served are less nutritious than you would like, consider choosing 2 or 3 days a week for your child to participate, and supplement with healthier brown bag lunches on the remaining days.

When you are making judgments about the school lunch programs in your community, remember that the healthiest brown bag lunches are of little benefit if they aren�t eaten.




Review Date: 11/16/2004
Reviewed By: Philip L. Graham III, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Heart Center
Women's Pavilion & Birthplace
Children's Center
Center for Patient Safety
Emergency Services/Trauma
Rehab


To read our disclaimer, click here