Nutrient Average Menu Nutrient Content Menus Not Meeting Guidelines
Units Mean ± STD Guidelines % of Menus ± STDa,b
Macronutrients
Protein  g/1,000 kcal 56 ±4 <RDA 0 ± 0
Carbohydrate  g/1,000 kcal 113 ±11 <RDA 2 ± 14
Fiber  g/1,000 kcal 8.8 ±2.1 <IOM 94 ± 24
Total Fat  g/1,000 kcal 35.9 ±3.9 >AMDR 17 ± 38
Saturated Fat  g/1,000 kcal 14.0 ±1.6 >DG 97 ± 17
Linoleic Acid mg/1,000 kcal 4.21 ± 0.49 <AI 100 ± 0
Linolenic Acid mg/1,000 kcal 0.41 ± 0.05 <AI 100 ± 0
Cholesterol mg/1,000 kcal 115 ±27 >DG 4 ± 20
Minerals
Calcium mg/1,000 kcal 1065 ± 108 <RDA 0 ± 0
Phosphorus mg/1,000 kcal 1073 ±80 <RDA 0 ± 0
Magnesium mg/1,000 kcal 172 ±14 <RDA 0 ± 0
Iron mg/1,000 kcal 11.9 ± 2.3 <RDA 0 ± 0
Zinc mg/1,000 kcal 9.50 ± 0.86 <RDA 0 ± 0
Copper μg/1,000 kcal 487 ±33 <RDA 0 ± 0
Selenium μg/1,000 kcal 64.9 ±.3 <RDA 0 ± 0
Potassium mg/1,000 kcal 1786 ± 137 <AI 100 ± 0
Sodium mg/1,000 kcal 1641 ± 131 >UL 100 ± 0
Vitamins
Vitamin A µg RAE/1,000 kcal 553 ± 65 <RDA 0 ± 0
Vitamin C mg/1,000 kcal 39 ± 16 <RDA 12 ± 32
Vitamin E mg/1,000 kcal 2.32 ± 0.27 <RDA 100 ± 0
Thiamin mg/1,000 kcal 0.98 ± 0.13 <RDA 0 ± 0
Riboflavin mg/1,000 kcal 1.98 ± 0.19 <RDA 0 ± 0
Niacin mg/1,000 kcal 12.5 ± 1.46 <RDA 0 ± 0
Vitamin B6 mg/1,000 kcal 1.25 ± 0.15 <RDA 0 ± 0
Folate μg DFE/1,000 kcal 407 ± 79 <RDA <1 ± 0
Vitamin B12 μg/1,000 kcal 5.25 ± 0.60 <RDA 0 ± 0
Vitamin K μg/1,000 kcal 18.1 ± 8.2 <RDA 94 ± 23
Table 2: Nutrient content of elementary school meals (excluding the salad bar) in 12 Oregon school districts in 2011 (N=299). RDA: recommended dietary allowance; IOM: Institute of Medicine; AMDR: acceptable macronutrient distribution range; DG: dietary guidelines; EAR: estimated adequate requirements; AI: adequate intake; UL: tolerable upper intake level; RAE: retinol activity equivalents; DFE: dietary folate equivalents.a% of menus meeting 2010 Dietary Guidelines [3] was calculated by comparing the recommended with the estimated nutrient consumption per 1,000 kcal or % calories [2]. bThe SMI standards specified that school meals should follow RDA’s for protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C and provide less than 10% of energy from saturated fat and no more than 30% of energy from fat [4]. The SMI standards were achieved for all menus for calcium and protein. Inadequacies were observed for saturated fat (97% of menus), total fat (75%), vitamin C (34%), iron (6% of menus), and vitamin A (3%).