More fruit, fewer calories urged for school lunches

U.S. children should get more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in their school meals even though this will push up costs, and calories should be limited, a panel recommended to the federal government on Tuesday.

As obesity among adolescents continues to rise, a report from the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academies, proposed updating school meal programs to meet nutritional needs and foster better eating habits, but recognized healthier, fresher ingredients would boost costs, especially at breakfast where fruit servings would increase.

It estimated the changes could increase the cost of breakfast by as much as 25 percent and lunch by 9 percent.

Many school cafeterias serve such fare as hot dogs, chicken nuggets and french fries and a dearth of fresh produce. Under the new guidelines, most school food providers would need more government money to help pay for food, training and equipment, the report said.

“This will be a very wise investment in children’s health,” Virginia Stallings, chair of the group that conducted the study said in an interview.

The Institute of Medicine conducted the review of the country’s school breakfast and lunch programs at the request of the Agriculture Department, which runs them. School meal programs provide 40 million meals daily and more than half of students’ food and nutrient intake during the school day.

Students can receive free or subsidized school meals if their family’s income is low enough.

Officials at the USDA are updating the nutrition and meal requirements used for school meals. The framework, last updated in 1995, sets food and nutrient standards that must be met by school programs to qualify for cash reimbursements and food from the government.

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