School Breakfast Programs Can Now Substitute Vegetables for Fruit 2019-03-25In a recent policy memo, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service announced that effective immediately School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) may credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly breakfast menus. SFAs must offer 1 cup of fruit daily to children in all age and grade groups. To meet this requirement, SFAs may offer a vegetable in place of a fruit. SFAs that offer 1 cup of fruit or vegetable at breakfast each day will be considered compliant during the Administrative Review through September 30, 2019. Under regulations prior to this notice, participants had to ensure that at least two cups per week are from the dark green, red/orange, beans and peas or “other vegetables” subgroups.