Schools need updated kitchens to serve healthier meals, study says

Dec. 19—The Pew Kid's Safe and Healthful Foods Project has released a new study that shows schools need money to purchase or upgrade kitchen equipment in order to help them serve healthier meals that meet the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Some highlights of the survey include:

Finding 1: The vast majority of school food authorities (88%) needed one or more pieces of equipment to help them meet the current lunch standards. Of those that reported having inadequate equipment, more than 85% are “making do” with a less-efficient process or workaround.

Finding 2: Only 42% of school food authorities reported having a budget to purchase capital equipment, and less than half expected the budget to be adequate to meet their equipment needs.

Finding 3: More than half of all school food authorities (55%) need kitchen infrastructure changes at one or more schools to meet the lunch requirements. Schools across the country are working hard to put safe and healthful meals on the cafeteria table. This report will outline the equipment and infrastructure they need to do so.

Finding 1: The vast majority of school food authorities (88 percent) needed one or more pieces of equipment to help them meet the current lunch standards. Of those that reported having inadequate equipment, more than 85 percent are “making do” with a less-efficient process or workaround.

Finding 2: Only 42 percent of school food authorities reported having a budget to purchase capital equipment, and less than half expected the budget to be adequate to meet their equipment needs.

Finding 3: More than half of all school food authorities (55 percent) need kitchen infrastructure changes at one or more schools to meet the lunch requirements. Schools across the country are working hard to put safe and healthful meals on the cafeteria table. This report will outline the equipment and infrastructure they need to do so.

- See more at: http://www.pewhealth.org/reports-analysis/reports/serving-healthy-school-meals-kitchen-equipment-85899527489#sthash.gr3PGNZE.dpuf

Finding 1: The vast majority of school food authorities (88 percent) needed one or more pieces of equipment to help them meet the current lunch standards. Of those that reported having inadequate equipment, more than 85 percent are “making do” with a less-efficient process or workaround.

Finding 2: Only 42 percent of school food authorities reported having a budget to purchase capital equipment, and less than half expected the budget to be adequate to meet their equipment needs.

Finding 3: More than half of all school food authorities (55 percent) need kitchen infrastructure changes at one or more schools to meet the lunch requirements. Schools across the country are working hard to put safe and healthful meals on the cafeteria table. This report will outline the equipment and infrastructure they need to do so.