 STATE UPDATES FIBER STANDARD As part of the School Meals Initiative (SMI), USDA has given each state the authority to set specific standards for sodium, cholesterol and fiber. Occasionally these standards are reviewed to ensure that they are still adequate for meeting the needs of the children we serve each day. The National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Dietetics Association has recommended guidelines geared for children’s needs and their developmental cycle. The new formula is the child’s age plus 5. For example, a five year old child would need about 10 grams of fiber per day, 5+5=10. This formula allows for the increased need for fiber as the child grows. Therefore, an average level of fiber has been determined for each grade group based on this formula. Below is a chart that shows the current weekly average requirement and the updated weekly average requirement set for fiber in each established grade group. Agencies using menu analysis software will want to update their database to include the new requirement.
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