From Our 2012 Archives New Rules for School Lunches Latest
Healthy Kids News Healthier Food, Smaller Portions: But Still No
Potato Limit By Daniel J. DeNoon Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Jan. 25, 2012 -- For the first time in 15 years, the National
School Lunch Program has raised nutrition standards. The new
rules mean kids will see more fruits and vegetables every day.
Portions will be smaller. Only low-fat or skim milk will be
served. There will be a lot more whole grains. And schools will
get more money -- an extra six cents a meal -- from the federal
government. But Congress in 2011 forbade the USDA from limiting
servings of potatoes. The law also allows schools to count the
tomato paste on pizza as a vegetable. But Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack says that won't throw a monkey wrench into the new
standards. "It was a bit unfortunate that some groups had
powerful friends in Congress and basically tried to sort of
short-change [kids] and create some confusion with these
standards," Vilsack said at a news