School lunches are getting healthier with new federal requirements, which went into effect July 1st, setting calorie limits for meals and requiring other changes to increase nutritional standards.
The most obvious: each student is now required to have at least one fresh fruit or vegetable on his or her plate.
The Director of Nutritional Programs for Atlanta Public Schools, Marilyn Hughes, knows there’s no guarantee students will eat what they choose. But she says hopes the cafeteria line will provide more than just a daily meal. “What students are learning by just going through their cafeteria line can actually change their way of life and what they know to be the traditions for a family. So they will know that it’s important to include fruits and vegetables and know that you can have items that are tasty in very different ways.”
If the school system meets the federal standards, it can mean reimbursement of up to six cents per student per meal.
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