Education News – Kristin Decarr
“According to the results of a new US Government Accountability report, students across the country are largely rejecting the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. Since the federal standards were introduced by first lady Michelle Obama, 1.4 million schoolchildren across the country have opted out of the school lunch program. The requirements place limits on the amount of sugar and sodium allowed in school lunch offerings and instead ask schools to use more whole grains. In 2012, schools were asked to include a fruit or vegetable at each meal. By 2014, that requirement had changed to ask schools to use whole grains when preparing any bread items and to give fruits to students at both breakfast and lunch regardless of whether they wanted them or not. Now, the plans include reducing the amount of sodium allowed. However, the new foods that follow these stricter rules are being found to make their way into garbage cans at much higher rates than the previous lunch choices.”(more)