Lunch Standards Raised

In an effort to combat childhood obesity and promote a healthful lifestyle, the USDA is calling for higher standards for school lunches. The USDA’s aim is to reduce the amount of trans fat, sodium, and calories in school meals. The proposal calls for one serving of fruit and two servings of vegetables each day and for the first time requires that half of the grains served be whole grains. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “With many children consuming as many as half their daily calories at school, strengthening nutritional standards is an important step in the Obama administration’s effort to combat childhood obesity and improve the health and well-being of our kids.”