Recently, the district lunch policies changed in accordance with the National School Lunch program, affecting what qualified as a full “lunch” as far as pricing is concerned.

The changes stem from the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, closely associated with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, which dictated many changes to the way lunches would be defined under the National School Lunch program for the 2012 school year.

The main direct impact on Lafayette students would be the provision mandating healthier options in the lunch line, “a la carte” options and school stores.

This provision allows for a greater selection of fruits and vegetables in the lunch line and requires the addition of a vegetable or fruit in order to count as a full meal and receive the “lunch” or “super lunch” price.

“I have received a couple of complaints from parents regarding the mandate of a fruit or vegetable being required on the tray if the students wishes to purchase a complete reimbursable meal for the $2.55 regular lunch or $2.85 super lunch,” Director of Child Nutrition Services, Carmen Fischer, said.

Senior Hawo Abud said, “[The new policy] is pointless. They can’t force you to eat [healthy] if you don’t want it.”

The wider definition of what is a vegetable allows french fries and tater tots to count as vegetables as well.  Thus, the portions are larger this year than last.

Guidelines have also been set “age-appropriate calorie limits” for the students are concerned.  At this time, these limits are not being enforced, but serve mainly as guidelines to be considered by parents and students as they make their lunch selections.

Another goal of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act is to lower the sodium of the food offered to students in public school.

“We do not offer salt packets to students.  We use Mrs. Dash to season [and] many of the manufacturers are reducing the sodium in their items as well.  We evaluate the sodium content of the items we consider purchasing and we do not add salt during cooking,” Fischer said.

As part of the effort to move toward healthier food, the pizza provider changed as well.  They switched from Domino’s to Papa John’s after they bid for the pizza provider in May.

“Every year in May, we send out bids for pizzas for the upcoming school year.  Companies then provide us a price for their pizza for the school year.  This year we asked for whole grain crust and Papa John’s offered the whole grain crust for the best price,” Fischer said.

The new Rockwood lunch policies try to offer students healthy alternatives in order to promote a healthier lifestyle.

See the following links for additional information:

For more information on Let’s Move and the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act visit http://www.letsmove.gov/first-lady-column-healthy-hunger-free-kids-act

For more information on the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/PressReleases/2010/0632.htm

For more information on what counts as a vegetable under the new policy, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/resources/fbgvegfruits.pdf

For a list of the age-appropriate calorie limits for lunches, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/dietaryspecs.pdf