School lunches will be healthier, and slightly more expensive, when students return to the classroom in August.
Pushed by federal guidelines to combat the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, school nutritionists across the nation are feeling the financial hit as they try to figure out how to cost-effectively meet the new requirements, which mark the first significant changes to the government-subsidized school lunch program in 15 years.
Fruits and vegetables will play a starring role in the revamped food lineup, and more whole grain products will be required, like whole wheat bread and pasta.
The new guidelines are part of the continued rollout of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which President Barack Obama signed in 2010 and is slated for full implementation by 2013-2014.
The lunch price will increase from $2.05 to $2.10 for full-pay students within the Columbus Municipal School District. Lowndes County students paid $2.15 last year, but a proposed 10-cent increase for the upcoming school year has not yet been approved by the board, LCSD Child Nutrition Director Betty Clinton said Thursday.
Students receiving free and reduced lunches will not be affected by the price changes.
For some parents, summer presents an additional financial challenge as they struggle to provide daily, adequate nutrition for school-age children who normally receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch during the school year.
To meet that need, both districts participate in the Summer Food Service Program, offering free lunch to all area children below the age of 18, regardless of family income levels.
The city school system wraps up its summer feeding program today, having provided around 24,000 free meals since the program began May 29, said Thomas Collins, food services director for CMSD. That’s roughly half the meals served in previous years — a participation decrease he speculates may be due to fewer feeding sites this year.
Meals were served at Columbus Middle School, Columbus High School, Hunt Intermediate School, Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School and the Boys and Girls Club on 14th Avenue.
The county’s summer feeding program began June 4 and concludes July 20. It is open Mondays through Fridays to all children 18 or younger.
The three participating sites are Artesia Community Center, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Crawford Community Center, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Plum Grove Community Center, from noon to 1 p.m.
The summer feeding program has operated on a federal level since 1975.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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