Worksheet

Cheat Sheet for New USDA School Nutrition Standards

USDA Standards Cheat Sheet

Get a simplified breakdown of the new USDA meal patterns standards for schools. The USDA aligned these updates with the latest nutrition science and feedback from their school meal partners.

Use this simple cheat sheet to compare the current standards with the updated guidelines. Schools are not required to make changes to their menus until the 2025-2026 school year at the earliest.

Use this USDA nutrition standards cheat sheet to:

  • Understand the updates to school nutrition standards
  • See how the updates could affect current meal patterns
  • Get tips to prepare for meeting the new requirements between 2025-2027

Learn about changes to standards around added sugars, salt, and more. Plus, find out what to expect from new specifics around non-domestic food purchase limits.

Save this cheat sheet on your device or print it as a quick-reference guide, and feel free to share it with your colleagues.