Monday is the first day of National School Lunch Week, and school districts in Nevada are showcasing the changes they've made to cafeteria food. School Nutrition Services Manager Catrina Peters says recent federal guidelines mean a host of changes to the daily lunch and breakfast menus. "Require a fruit or vegetable to be offered every day. All grains to be whole grain rich. Lean meats and a variety of low fat or non-fat milk," Peters said.Â
Washoe County schools have embraced the new guidelines, and all menus are now approved by the Department of Agriculture. Students can choose from a greater variety of healthy foods. They may not notice the overall reduction in sugar and trans-fat, but they seem to appreciate having more choices; especially when it comes to vegetables. "So instead of having a starchy vegetable like a potato every day, we're seeing school districts offer things like romaine lettuce, baby carrots, sweet potatoes and a variety of legumes like black or re-fried beans," Peters added.
The healthy meal plan emphasizes portion size, calories and nutrition. Experts hope the kids will take what they learn about eating a healthy meal at school and eat nutritious meals at home as well.
