USDA softens school lunch guidelines

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is relaxing some of the guidelines it placed on school lunch programs last fall.

After gauging feedback from parents, politicians and meal planners, the agency is allowing districts to serve as many grains and meat as they want for the rest of this school year, as long as the meals don't exceed a set calorie limit. Those calorie limits are different depending on a child's age.

In the Green Bay district, meal planners said the softer stance by the USDA  does allow a little wiggle room, however they aren't making too many changes to their lunchroom.

"We truly didn't make any major changes because we know that USDA will come out with the final ruling," explained Laura Rowel, a Quality Assurance Specialist with the Green Bay district.  "And once that final ruling is in front of us, we can put the pencil to the paper again and look at our menus nutritionally and what's best for children."

Schools still have to make sure every students takes a fruit or vegetable with their meals.