Tue August 14, 2012 JCPS Updates Meals Under New Federal
Guidlines Jefferson County Public Schools officials will keep a
close eye on school lunches this year as the district implements
new federal standards that will make meals healthier. The
standards approved this year by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture bring school meals into compliance with the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. This means more fruits and vegetables
and whole wheat and less sodium and fat in school food. But
students need to participate for JCPS to be reimbursed under the
National School Lunch Program. To help meet these standards, the
government is offering schools 9 cents more to spend on each
meal for free-and-reduced lunch students, bringing the total to
$2.88 per student. But JCPS nutrition director Julia Bauscher
said schools won't get the money if students pass on the
healthier foods. “The fact that students need to take a fruit or
vegetable is very important for us to communicate that to the
students, and to our staff and to pa