Nanny State?

If you don't think the government is on it's way to run every aspect of our lives, just read the report below. Your children will eat what they're told or you parents will pay more money.

Where does this madness end?


New rules intended for students to have healthy meals at school

 

There are some new rules for school lunches that are designed to make sure students are getting healthy meals. But it could have cost implications for parents and the school districts themselves.

It is the first national overhaul of school lunches in more than 15 years. Under new USDA rules, school lunches have to fall into a certain caloric range, have less sodium and no trans fats. Plus, there's a new emphasis on eating more fruits and vegetables.

In fact, if kids don't take those foods in the lunch line, the meals could come with a steeper price tag.

Metro school cafeteria managers spent Tuesday in training to learn more about the big changes meant to fight the growing childhood obesity problem.

"It's important we help our students understand that importance of eating more fruits and vegetables as we move to be a healthy community and a healthy school district," said Braina Corke, with the Metro Schools Nutrition Program.

The changes mean students this year will need to pick up a fruit or vegetable on the line in order to have a complete meal. If they don't it means parents will have to pay more money for a la carte items as opposed to a reduced rate for a complete meal.

"It's important for parents to partner with us and encourage students to pick up that fruit or vegetable, so the student can have the nutrition they need for the day and the parent can save money by making certain they are not charged a la carte prices," Corke said.

It's also important for the school district, because a large majority of the 40,000 meals served daily in Metro schools are reimbursed by the federal government through free and reduced lunch programs.

Fewer complete meals means less government reimbursement.

That's why the cafeteria training is so important, because managers are going to have to keep a good eye on what kids are putting on their trays.

"Our cafeteria staff will be encouraging students that they will need to take a fruit or vegetable, and we will have it easily packaged. So if they forget one they can easily pick it up and move through the cafe line to allow them plenty of time to eat their meal," Corke said.

The new rules this year only apply to school lunches, and next year the rules will apply to school breakfasts as well.

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7/30/12