Superintendent Hedalen Welcomes New Nutrition Guidelines
 | Author:
Susie Hedalen, Superintendent Office of Public Instruction
Superintendent Of Public Instruction |
Susie Hedalen
Superintendent Office of Public Instruction
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen welcomes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newly released dietary guidance and expresses strong support for efforts to improve the health and well-being of students across the country.
“These new USDA guidelines represent a meaningful shift towards healthier school meals built around whole, nutrient-dense foods,” said Superintendent Hedalen. “I commend President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Secretary Kennedy for putting the health of our children first and recognizing the critical role high-quality food plays in learning, growth, and long-term well-being. As we seek to improve student mental and physical health, I encourage families and schools to embrace active lifestyles and nutritious foods. We are lucky to live in the State of Montana, where these opportunities are abundantly available.”
Montana is uniquely positioned to support this national initiative, and in fact is already a national leader in many ways through our strong agricultural programs and longstanding local partnerships between schools, ranchers and farmers. Schools across the state already benefit from locally sourced, Montana-raised meat and fresh vegetables, strengthening both student nutrition and Montana’s agricultural economy.
Superintendent Hedalen also highlighted the Montana Marinara Program, which helps connect schools with local food producers and reinforces farm-to-school initiatives that bring high-quality, locally grown foods into cafeterias.
“Montana has been a leader in supporting local agriculture and getting healthy, locally sourced food onto students’ plates,” Hedalen said. “Our partnerships with Montana ranchers and farmers not only improve nutrition but also invest in our communities and our economy. Montana looks forward to leading the movement to Make America Healthy Again.”
The Montana Office of Public Instruction looks forward to fully implementing the USDA’s newest guidelines; however, much of this work is already underway by OPI’s School Nutrition team, who provide a variety of resources and services to local school districts. To learn more, visit: https://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Management-Operations/School-Nutrition
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Image 1 Caption: Susie Hedalen, Superintendant Office of Public Instruction
