Helping Schools Serve Healthier Foods

School meals play an important role in supporting the health and well-being of Mississippi students. Students deserve access to nutritious foods that help them learn, grow, and thrive.

In recent years, growing attention has been paid to ultra-processed foods, which often contain high levels of added sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat. While these foods are common throughout the food system, schools have an opportunity to help students develop healthy eating habits by offering more nutritious options.

The Solution: Healthier School Food Standards

The American Heart Association supports establishing statewide standards that reduce ultra-processed foods served in school meals or offered through competitive food programs. Specifically, the Heart Association supports standards that:

• Gradually reduce ultra-processed foods identified as foods of public health concern in schools.
• Establish nutrition standards at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• Align existing school nutrition policies with the Heart Association’s definition of ultra-processed foods of public health concern where applicable.
• Allow local communities to adopt stronger standards if they choose.
• Allow implementation over several years to support a successful transition, recognizing that schools and food suppliers need time to adapt.

By establishing consistent statewide standards, Mississippi can help create healthier school food environments for students across the state.

Why It Matters

School meals can play a meaningful role in shaping lifelong eating habits. By offering healthier foods, schools can help reinforce healthy choices and support students’ overall well-being.

Healthier school food environments can:

• Promote better nutrition among students.
• Support healthy growth and development.
• Encourage lifelong healthy eating habits.
• Complement nutrition education taught in schools and at home.

Every student deserves access to foods that support their health and success.

How You Can Help

Creating healthier school environments starts with engaged advocates. If you’re already a member of the American Heart Association’s Heart Powered network, watch for opportunities to take action on school nutrition policies in Mississippi.

Not yet connected to our school nutrition advocacy work? Take the School Meals for Healthy Students Pledge to show your support for policies that help students access and benefit from nutritious school meals. By signing the pledge, you’ll join Heart Powered and receive updates on the Heart Association’s advocacy efforts, including school nutrition priorities. You’ll also learn about opportunities to take action when your voice is needed.

Together, we can help create healthier school food environments that support Mississippi students’ health and success.

Resources

Looking to learn more about ultraprocessed foods? Explore these resources:

American Heart Association: Regulating Ultraprocessed Foods Fact Sheet
Learn about the Heart Association’s policy approach to ultra-processed foods and the evidence behind efforts to reduce their consumption.

American Heart Association Science Advisory on Ultraprocessed Foods
Review the latest science on ultra-processed foods and their relationship to cardiovascular and metabolic health.

CDC: Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Youth and Adults
Explore national data on ultra-processed food consumption among children and adults in the United States.