School Lunch Improvements

For students across the country, a cafeteria lunch no longer equates to cold burgers and mystery meat. Instead, the School Nutrition Association’s focus on healthy meals for kids has led to more and more vegetarian lunch options. According to the soon-to-be released 2009 School Nutrition Operations Report, nearly two-thirds of school nutrition programs offer vegetarian options, up from 22 percent in 2003. Even more progressive, the report found that 20.5 percent of programs offer vegan menu items. With lunches of luscious entrée salads and whole-grain crust veggie pizza, students can enjoy a healthy, well-rounded meal. Now that’s thinking outside the lunch box.