Heart smart school lunch program: a vehicle for cardiovascular health promotion.

Abstract In response to current dietary recommendations, the "Heart Smart" School Lunch Program has developed a model using the classroom to transfer knowledge and the school lunch program to facilitate cardiovascular healthy eating behavior. Dietary changes focus on reduction in sodium, fat (specifically saturated fat), and sugar in school lunches. Strategies to institutionalize these dietary changes comprise five major areas within quantity food production: menu planning, food purchasing, recipe modification, food preparation, and food production techniques. These recommendations could be applied for use in school health promotion programs throughout the nation.