To celebrate National Nutrition Month and nationwide efforts to boost nutrition in school meals, USA Rice Federation is partnering with Chartwells School Dining Services, the nation’s leader in contract management services to 6,000 schools nationwide, to emphasize the importance of healthy eating. Chartwells’ EAT LEARN LIVE With Color Nutrition Month® campaign teaches students to choose healthy foods including whole grains like brown rice along with lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. 

The program encourages schools to conduct activities to promote whole grain brown rice by serving healthy rice bowls for lunch, and utilizes a fun, interactive workbook, U.S. Rice In The Classroom, to teach students about U.S.-grown rice. Classroom activities also include preparing a seasoned brown rice mix recipe that students can cook at home with their parents.

To support these efforts, USA Rice staff will visit several Chartwells-managed schools this month to present rice information during nutrition education sessions. The promotion leverages the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s initiative to improve the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing servings of whole grains as recommended by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

For more information and recipes, visit www.MenuRice.com.