Students Adapt to New School Lunch Menus

    September 27, 2012 - Healthier school lunches are being served this year and it's all part of a national requirement.

    The National School Lunch Program has significantly changed lunches in schools, it's a federal program targeting obesity.

    The Erie School District's food provider, Metz Culinary Management, says several changes are on the menu this year.

    Every week there has to be an offering of a red/orange vegetable, dark green vegetable, legume and starch.

    Any bread products, including pizza, are now made with 51% whole grain.

    The caloric intake amount for high school students is between 750 and 850 calories.

It was a minimum of 825 calories.    

    Elementary students have between 550 and 650 calories.

    It was a minimum of 633 calories on the old lunch menu.

    The caloric intake amount has prompted schools like collegiate academy to cut back on a popular lunch item: tator tots.

    All students in the Erie School District receive a free lunch and breakfast.

    In order for them to maintain that, the federal nutrition guidelines for lunches must be met.