Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to provide baseline data and characteristics of food served and consumed prior to the recently mandated nutrition standards as authorized by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). Methods: Over 600,000 school lunch menus with associated food production records from 61 elementary schools nested in 39 districts across five states were collected during the school years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 (baseline). Data were analyzed using school food image analysis system to provide quantitative assessment of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meal patterns and nutrient compositions. Subsequently, these values were compared to the new standards to determine the level of adjustments needed to meet these requirements. Results: The national daily averages for fruit, vegetable, grain, meat, and milk servings for the school years at baseline were as follows: 0.42 cup, 0.22 cup, 1.07 oz, 1.70 oz, and 0.82 cup, respectively. The average calorie content of these serving trays was 484.73 ± 163.70 kcal with 802.93 ± 468.60 mg of sodium and 5.37 ± 4.27 mg or 11.08% saturated fat. In comparison to the HHFKA requirements, these values suggest that, of the 644,070 meals analyzed, 57%, 84%, 61%, 45%, and 19% did not include the recommended daily minimum servings of fruits, vegetables, grain, meat, and milk respectively, and only 47% of these meals contained the proper calories. Application to Child Nutrition Professionals: The applications of procedures presented in this paper are important to schools for policy implementation and certifications for reimbursements. However, the data are also of significant interest to state health officials and policy makers in promoting and monitoring healthy school nutrition in accordance with the new nutritional guidelines.