An ad hoc expert committee will undertake a study to review and recommend revisions to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and National School Breakfast Program (SBP). The committee will review and assess the food and nutritional needs of school-aged children in the United States (US) based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the IOM Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and use that review as a basis for recommended revisions to the NSLP and SBP meal pattern and nutrient standard requirements. The goal is the development of a set of well-conceived, practical, and economical recommendations for meal patterns and standards that reflect current nutritional science, increase the availability of key food groups, as appropriate, and allow these programs to better meet the nutritional needs of children, foster healthy eating habits, and safeguard children's health. The study will be undertaken in two phases, each resulting in a report that has been reviewed through the Academies' review procedures. The committee's Phase I report will be issued for comment and will outline for the NSLP and for the SBP, the proposed criteria and process for selecting food group and nutrient targets and minimum standards for each week's menus, a reimbursable meal as offered, and a reimbursable meal as served (weighted average over the week). It will also discuss data sources to be used in Phase II and plans for undertaking a sensitivity analysis and approaches to addressing such issues as cost implications and market effects. The Phase II report will be a comprehensive report that:1) Updates information from the Phase I report as needed;2) Reviews scientific information, methods and assumptions underlying the committee's recommendations;3) Discusses specific issues related to age/grade groups, calories and other key nutrients and food groups emphasized in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, menu planning approaches, foods offered versus served, and attainability of recommendations;4) Discusses the application of DRIs in this study and implications for the current statutory requirements based on one-third (lunch) or one-half of the IOM Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calories and key nutrients;5) Discusses the anticipated economic impact of the recommendations, including implications for school food authorities and commodity markets under the assumptions of full substitution, full supplementation and impact at the expected level of substitution/supplementation.6) Recommends for NSLP and for SBP specific food groups and nutrient targets for intake by participants in the reimbursable meal service; food group/component and nutrient minimum standards for each weeks' reimbursable meal service menus; for a reimbursable meal as offered; for reimbursable meal as served (i.e., as selected by the student); and a set of 4 week cycle menus.The project, which began on February 11, 2008, is sponsored by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.The Phase 1 report is expected to be issued in approximately 11 months. The Phase 2 report will be issued in approximately 21 months.Update 5/26/2009: The Phase I report was released December 17, 2008. The Phase II report is anticipated in prepublication format during October 2009.