Tips for Schools

Tips for School Nutrition Pros

School food authorities (SFAs) may substitute 1 ounce equivalent of the meat/meat alternates component (including legumes) for 1 ounce equivalent of the grains component, after offering the minimum daily 1 ounce equivalent of grains.

Tips for School
Nutrition Pros

Pulses Credit in the National School Lunch Program

Pulses credit in the Meat/Meat Alternate category or in the vegetable category, in the beans and peas subgroup. Dry or canned beans, dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, hummus and oh-so much more can help you meet National School Lunch Program guidelines.

Vegetable Subgroup

Grades K-12: minimum of 1/2 cup beans/peas weekly

Chickpeas, beans, lentils and split peas may be added to smoothies and credit towards the vegetable

Meat/Meat Alternate

1/2 cup of beans, chickpeas, lentils, dry peas = 2 oz. meat/meat alternate

1/4 cup of beans, chickpeas, lentils, dry peas = 1 oz. meat/meat alternate

Pulse Pasta Product Crediting

Did you know that pastas and other products made from 100% pulse flours (like lentil and chickpea pasta, for example) can also credit towards the vegetable subgroup or meat/meat alternates? Products made with 100% vegetable flours may credit towards the vegetable group.

Vegetable Subgroup

Pasta made with 100% vegetable flour, such as chickpea flour or red lentil flour, may credit towards the vegetable category

1/2 cup cooked pasta (made with 100% vegetable flours) = 1/2 cup vegetables (beans/peas subgroup)

Meat/Meat Alternate

Pasta made with pulse flours will credit towards the meat/meat alternate subgroup when served with an additional meat/meat alternate

Pulses at Breakfast

Pulses even credit at breakfast! Pulses may credit in the fruit category.

Updates to the School Breakfast Program Guidelines now allow vegetables, like chickpeas, beans, dry peas and lentils, to credit towards the fruit requirement at breakfast.