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    Finally, Fruits and Vegetables for School Lunches

    By Maxine Nelson | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Thu, Jan 26, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    COMMENTARY | At last, school kids will have healthier lunches with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains on their plates. Gone will be the steady diet of pizzas, french fries and other fattening foods, reports Reuters. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the announcement Wednesday in regard to its free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches.

    Already 32 million schoolchildren take advantage of these subsidized meal programs. This is certainly good news, but the issue of childhood obesity has been going on for far too long. Why does it take nearly a decade for change to occur like this?

    According to the Associated Press, school lunches will need to follow guidelines regarding calorie intake. Milk and flavored milk will be low in fat or nonfat. First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative called the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) championed for healthy school meals.

    This new meal program does not start until the 2012-13 school year. Even though some schools have implemented healthier food choices, others are still serving up fatty foods high in calories. What can one do to help their child along before these healthy meals become the standard later this year?

    Check out the Super Healthy Kids blog for excellent ideas on how and what to serve your kids when it comes to fruits and vegetables. One creative way to serve raw carrots is to use a heart shaped cookie cutter. Make popsicles in a cylinder mold and stick with fruit such as fresh strawberries, low-fat vanilla yogurt and fresh blueberries. You'll end up with an American flag treat.

    Fruits and Veggies More Matters website is filled with more dietary information. Use whole grain breads instead of white bread for making toast. Certain vegetables and fruits have an acquired taste. Let your child try them a few times before they develop a liking. You can grate or cut up vegetables into their entrees and soups. By slowly introducing them to more fruits and vegetables over time they won't seem overwhelmed when the new school lunches take effect after summer vacation.

     

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