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School Lunches Get Healthier

Food service workers set out Individual salads at a school cafeteria in Lincoln, Neb.
Clay Masters
/
Harvest Public Media
Food service workers set out Individual salads at a school cafeteria in Lincoln, Neb.

Kansas school children may not notice the changes, but they'll be eating healthier meals at the school cafeterias. K-State nutritionist Sandy Proctor says that's because of the federal "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act."

“Some of the changes are offering both fruits and vegetables every day of the week, substantially increased offerings of whole grain rich foods, offering only fat free or low fat milk varieties, and limiting calories based on the age of children being served,” says Proctor.

Along those lines, Proctor says kindergartners will no longer be served the same portion sizes as high school students. Not all the changes mandated by the act will go into effect this year, but by next year, they’ll have to meet them for both breakfasts and lunches.

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