New Meal Rules Up Lunch Prices at Lakeland Schools

An initiative by the Obama administration to improve school nutrition and battle childhood obesity has led to changes in the 's food service, including a slight price increase.

The changes to the government-subsidized school meals include adding more fruits and vegetables to meals and reducing the amount of salt and fat.

James VanDevelde, spokesperson for the school district, said the state has recognized the district for being healthy and despite the food program being self-sufficient, district officials were forced to increase their prices. 

The following changes will have the most obvious impact on the current program:

• One of the three food components (minimum allowed) taken must be a fruit or vegetable
• At least two of the three food components taken must be full portions
• Reimbursable meals must be identified near or at the beginning of the serving line
• Fruits and vegetables are now two separate food component
• Vegetable subgroups required weekly minimum of dark green, red/orange, beans/peas, starchy, and other vegetables
• Raw leafy green vegetables (lettuce, spinach) are credited differently – full cup is credited as half cup
• No more than half of the fruit offered can be in the form of juice (limited to 1/2 cup serving)
• Breads/grains must offer minimum and maximum
• Breading on protein products do not have to be counted this year but must be counted next year
• Proteins must offer weekly minimum and maximum

Elementary School program changes:

• Lunch price will increase from $2.25 to $2.30 as required
• All meals served will continue to be offered as reimbursable meals. Serving sized will be adjusted to meet new regulations in all food changes
• Juice will be only offered twice a week (4 oz portion)
• Cereal lunches will be added as a menu option

Middle School program changes:

• Hand stretched stromboli will be eliminated as a menu option
• All other meals will continue to be offered as reimbursable meals
• Juice will be only offered twice a week (4 oz portion)

High School program changes:

• Hand stretched stromboli will not be offered as a reimbursable meals. It will be sold  a la carte only for $2.50
• A made to order full service deli bar will be offered a l carte only for $3.50
• Deli sandwiches meeting new regulations will be offered daily as a reimbursable meal for $2.50
• Sala plates meeting new regulations will be offered daily as a reimbursable meal for $3.50
• Juices will be reduced in portion size from 6 oz to 4 oz

Lakeland school district officials wrote on the website they'd like to know what new menu items students would like to see served in their school cafeteria? They can email Lakeland's Food Services department with their suggestions at foodforthought@lakelandschools.org.

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter