One half cup of fruit or vegetable, one entree, two grains and a fat free milk or juice makes a “Happy Plate”.
The Healthy Hunger-Free Act was created by First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to ensure heathier meals for students.
“The meals offered each day must be considered in totality,” Director of Food Services Linda Wright said. “If the students would choose the complete meal with all items selected, they should have plenty to eat.”
Having a set amount of foods provided left some students wanting.
“Sometimes the amount of food I eat leaves me feeling a little hungry,” freshman Abigail Knelsen said. “I can already feel the hunger after I’ve eaten my meal. Sometimes it’s just not that filling.”
Students who bring extra lunch money can purchase more food from the snack bar, which is something the junior high no longer has after the new nutrition plan.
“The meals don’t fill me up,” freshman Dustin Neufeld said. “When I don’t get filled up, I’ll go and get stuff from the snack bar.”
The staff can’t offer kids more food if they are still hungry.
“If the student only selects some of the food offered, they may not get enough food for them to be satisfied,” Wright said. “Students may purchase additional items but due to our restrictions, we will be unable to give additional foods as part of the meal.”
Getting used to the new requirements put students at a disadvantage in the meal line.
“I forget to grab all the food groups,” sophomore Regan Shepard said, “so I’ll have to go back and grab some fruit or vegetable. It’ll take some time to get used to it.”
For Knelsen, getting a fruit or vegetable is not a problem.
“In the line I don’t get sent back to grab a fruit or vegetable,” Knelsen said. “I just get what I like, and it’s enough.”
The menu changed from last year’s two cycles to six cycles for the new nutrition plan.
“I’m glad we have the juice option at lunch,” Shepard said. “I don’t like milk, and last year I would drink water at lunch.”
The new menus also make a difference in where lunch will take place.
“Where I eat lunch depends on If I have money, what the line is serving, and if I can get a ride from someone,” freshman Rawlings Rios said. “At lunch I’ve only eaten at Toony’s and McDonald’s because they’re the closest places to walk to.”
Knelsen decides whether to pack a lunch based on what was being served.
“I alternate where I eat,” Knelsen said. “I look to see what’s being served the day before and decide what I’m going to eat ahead of time.”
Wright said that she has noticed more lunches being brought from home.
“We realize that it will take time for students and parents to become accustomed to the new changes,” Wright said. “We are still offering good, healthy menus. We would encourage everyone to try new food items.”
NEW NUTRITION PLAN REQUIREMENTS
* one cup of vegetables per day
*condiments such as ketchup, mustard, etc. cannot be offered daily as a part of the $1.75 lunch meal but may be purchased a la carte for an additional $.05