Gone are the days when school lunch menus included ketchup as a vegetable. What child is going to choose a boring salad over a big, cheesy slice of pizza? Thanks to new $4.5 billion Senate legislation, new standards for school nutrition will come into effect across the nation. Future legislation pending in the House will further strengthen this new senate legislation. And along with new child health insurance provisions in health care reform, the future is looking up for children’s health.
How Will School Lunch Menus Change?
The change in the approach to school nutrition does not require the elimination of pizza, fries, burgers, candy, and soda from the school diet. Instead, it promotes nutrition education and promises to teach children to make healthy choices.
For example, instead of receiving greasy pizza and deep fried French fries, students will find healthy versions of their favorite foods. Think whole grain pizza with healthier ingredients and baked French fries. Vending machines will feature fewer candy and sugary beverage options and more healthy options.
Who Is Responsible For Deciding What To Change?
The Agriculture Department is responsible for choosing foods to feature in lunches and vending machines. With the help of child nutrition advocates like Michelle Obama, the nutrition of the next generation will be better tasting and better for everyone.
Healthy School Lunch Legislation Bonuses
Not only does the new legislation offer students better food options, it also takes care of an important child nutrition issue facing many low income area schools. Some children only eat what they get at school. Expanding free healthy meals to include more children will allow low income area children to receive the nutrition they need.
Overall, this generation of school children is about to start eating some of the healthiest school lunches to ever slide onto a plastic tray. These better nutritional choices will stay with them as they grow up into healthier adults.
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