Much of fresh produce in Utah's healthier school lunches gets dumped

Josiah and students nationwide are gearing up for year two of the school lunch overhaul required by the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. They must now top their lunch trays with more fresh choices: students cannot clear the checkout line without taking a fruit or veggie cup. The law also trimmed down the portion sizes of meats and grains, shrinking burgers, hoagies and other popular choices. The changes cost Utah districts in two ways — first to buy the healthier fare and deal with more waste, then in lost customers as students opted to pack lunch or pick it up elsewhere. Buying more produce lowered bottom lines of school districts across Utah, said Luann Elliott, the state child nutrition programs director. But the hit is necessary, she said. "There has to be a place where kids learn what a healthy option looks like." The mandates are an important step toward good habits, nutrition professionals say, and it takes to transform attitudes from "yuck" to "yum." But in the first go-around, much of the fresh stuff went onto plates and into the garbage. Meanwhile, students nationwide complained of afternoon stomach grumbles, citing smaller burgers and halved buns, said Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA officials relented in January, temporarily lifting limits on grains and proteins. Students were once again allowed to take multiple rolls instead of just one, and cheeseburgers went back on some menus. It’s not yet official, but USDA officials now say the change will be permanent...more

I'll bet Michelle Obama hates this...but I love it.