Perhaps you’ve noticed some minor changes in the school cafeteria this year in regards to portions and prices.  These changes are due to the new regulations made by the Nation School Lunch Program (NSLP), which is governed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is enforced on our district through the School Food Service Authority (SFA) and the Nutritional Department.

I got the chance to interview the Director of Nutrition Services for our school district, Diana Herington, and Supervisors Lydia Beltran and Gwen Kubota. They were kind enough to free part of their schedules to help us understand why these changes were necessary as well as the challenges faced to keep in compliance with the new food guidelines.

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) has brought huge changes to school lunch regulations this year. Each student is allowed a maximum of five cups of fruits and vegetables, 12 ounces of grains, 12 ounces of meat or meat alternatives, and five cups of fluid or milks a week. The meals must stay be at least 750 calories and not exceed 850 calories, and the menu is not allowed to have over 10% saturated fats. Changes this big to school lunch requirements and regulations haven’t been made in over 15 years. Herington said that making the lunch schedules was “like building a puzzle” and “really a challenge this year because of the new requirements.”

The levels of sodium in all lunches are expected to decrease over the years, as well. But the change in sodium levels will take more time in order to give the manufactures time to find a way to make their meals with less sodium. Half of the grains in lunches are now whole grain, but by the 2014-2015 school year, all grains are expected to whole grains. All students must have 1 cup of fruit or vegetables a day. However, more changes will occur to portion sizes which are determined by the USDA. These changes are very different from the previous years, but it’s all for the students’ benefit.

The Nutritional Department receives reimbursement from the state and federal government for free, reduced, and paid lunches, which is around 26 to 27 cents per lunch. The HHFKA found that many schools were using the money for free students’ meals to offset the price of the paying students’ meals. The schools weren’t supposed to be doing this, which is why the prices have increased. The difference of the reimbursement and free lunches should equal the lunch price of paying students. There will be a gradual increase of the prices until the difference is paid. With the money received, it can benefit the program by paying for better quality food, like whole grains.

The Nutrition Services is self-reliant and doesn’t rely on the district. All of their income comes from the state and federal government. They pay their own workers, labor, kitchen equipment, trucks that transport the food to schools, and repairs. They had a refrigeration protect which cost them about $800,000 and bought new trucks for about $221,000. All, of which, comes out of their own budget, and they have been able to maintain it without relying on the district. They pay they district a direct-support-cost which is a percentage of expenses because they do their payroll, provide technology, human resources, so they must pay the district, usually around half a million dollars for providing services.

Schools used to be able to sell soda, Twinkies, and fast food. Now, High schools are only allowed to provide milk, water, 100% fruit juices, and electrolyte beverages, included PowerAde and Gatorade. But even the electrolyte beverages may be taken out.

There aren’t only regulations on school lunches, but also on A la carte. The maximum level for snack foods calories are 275 and nothing can be fried and everything needs to have 0% Trans fat, which is why the chips are now baked. Entrees sold at the A la carte must not exceed 400 calories; however, entrees from the carte were removed because they want the students to have a whole meal instead of just buying a burrito and some Gatorade. Prices for “a la carte” are expected to change and increase soon, most likely next year.

These changes aren’t only being made in California schools, but are being made in all schools nationwide. First lady, Michelle Obama has become one of the driving forces behind changing the school lunches due to the high obesity rate. She is an advocate for healthy eating and becoming active.

In the Colton Joint Unified School District, about 80% of the lunches are reduced or free. With most of them being free, these school lunches may be many students’ only meal all day, so it’s vital for them to have a healthy meal.