Public Domain Picture: 20130308-FNS-LSC-0371

Harmony Hills Elementary School café worker Carmen Mendez, worked hours to prepare the lunchtime meals and now has to work fast to ensure the students get their lunch selections onto their trays and head to their tables in about 10 minutes, in Silver Spring, MD, on Thursday, March 7, 2013. Harmony Hills’ 640 students spend about 25 minutes in the cafeteria. The process requires a choreographed procession of children moving to and from the cafeteria. Earlier in the day, the students select their menu items and know what to choose when in line. Today’s entrée items are reduced fat and reduced salt whole-wheat pizza, spicy chicken patty, salad and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers several programs that provide healthy food to children including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Special Milk Program. Administered by State agencies, each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, childcare centers, and after-school programs for providing healthy meals to children. Harmony Hills participates in the Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA), In-Classroom breakfast program, the fresh fruit and vegetable program, and the summer food service program. Learn more by visiting www.fns.usda.gov and twitter @USDANutrition. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

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Departmentofagriculture, Foodandnutritionservice, Md, Silverspring, Usa, Usda, Usdepartmentofagriculture

May 2, 2014