From the Derrick: Oil City school lunches are due for a big makeover, thanks to a new federal bill aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
And while the goal is lofty, the cost is also high.
“The new initiative will costs us $57,000 more a year to feed our kids,” said Joe Carrico, Oil City school superintendent, at an Oil City school board work session on Monday.
The new rules are contained in a child nutrition bill passed on the federal level last year. The new program calls for more fruits, green vegetables and whole grains in school breakfasts and lunches.
While focused primarily on reducing obesity, the menu changes are also geared to cut back on youngsters’ salt and fat intake. They mark the first substantial changes in the subsidized lunch program in 15 years.
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