How did it get to be back-to-school time already? The summer flew by, but I hope you had a good one and are ready for the excitement that comes with the first few weeks of school. Don’t forget that you can keep the energy going well into the school year by promoting events like the Farm Fresh Challenge and National School Lunch Week.

Now is the time to pledge participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge. Pick one of the three recognition levels then get ready to Eat Local, Teach Local, and Be Social throughout October. For National School Lunch Week, use Cafeteria Circus to set the stage for fun in the cafeteria from Oct. 12-16. Nutrition teams can start planning celebrations now and preparing to use Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) resources available on SquareMeals.org.

As you dive into the new school year, stay tuned for policy changes like the recently finalized rule Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs. This school year we also expect initial guidance for aligning school nutrition standards with the newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Much of that guidance accelerates efforts underway such as serving whole grain products, prioritizing whole fruit, and serving whole milk, an option provided in the final rule.

Expanding Fluid Milk Options

While schools were allowed to serve whole and reduced-fat milk to children ages 2 and up during lunch service last year, the final rule expands that flexibility to the School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Snack Program, Seamless Summer Option, Smart Snacks, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Note that the regulatory changes allow schools to serve flavored milk to children enrolled in kindergarten or higher; however, CACFP operators cannot serve flavored milk to children under 6.

Other milk flexibilities that were previously available only at lunch service prior to issuance of the final rule, such as the exclusion of fluid milk from the weekly saturated fat limits and flexibilities for offering non-dairy substitutes to all students, are now also applicable for breakfasts served under the School Breakfast Program.

Aligning Meals with New Dietary Guidelines

The flexibilities for whole milk reflect the broader impacts we can expect as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aligns school meals with the new DGA. The new DGA emphasize protein intake and whole foods, while discouraging things like added sugars and refined grains. As we await rules for implementation, you can familiarize yourself with the DGA and work to find products with less sugar and more nutrient-dense proteins.

Your voice matters. It is important to respond to the proposed rule once posted and outline the challenges that must be faced and the timeframes needed for successful implementation. Stay tuned to updates from the School Nutrition Association (SNA) about the upcoming proposed rule. You can access SNA resources to make it easier for your voice to be heard by policymakers.

Participating in the Farm Fresh Challenge provides excellent opportunities for introducing staff and students to menu changes aligned with DGA. You could feature whole milk from a Texas dairy or corn tortillas made in Texas. During National School Lunch Week consider using new foods to support your Cafeteria Circus activities. I know you and your staff have the creativity and expertise needed to explore new ways to make your meals and celebrations healthy and engaging.

In another type of change, TDA’s external calls and meetings have moved from Zoom to Microsoft Teams. That includes the popular monthly school calls. Use the link or QR code you will receive in an e-blast or find the link on SquareMeals.org to register and join the monthly school call on Teams. Attending requires submitting your name and email address to register. The registration link is available here and always on the National School Lunch Program Resources page on SquareMeals. You will also find archived calls on the Resources page.

I am so proud of the work you do, and I look forward to a new school year and a new chapter in school nutrition. Before you get wrapped up in all the excitement, take a minute to pledge participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge at SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge. Texas truly is a leader in school nutrition, and we can achieve new levels of success in 2026-2027. Thank you for joining the Commissioner Sid Miller and TDA in this effort and have a great year.