FULTON, Ill. —
Despite the strict national school lunch guidelines, students are gobbling up fruits and vegetables with little complaints, according to River Bend school officials.
While implementing the new program was a struggle initially for River Bend students, problems are few and far between these days.
“We have a lot of kids who actually want to eat healthy and prefer the fresh produce instead of canned,” River Bend School District Cafeteria Manager Peggy Kilburg said. “Some kids actually grab fruit first to make sure they get some before it runs out.”
The new school lunch program was pushed forward this school year by First Lady Michelle Obama in an effort to address childhood obesity. This includes increasing not only the amount of fruits and vegetables, but the variety and providing them fresh instead of canned.
The program also has caloric values for students by grade level.
Several other guidelines involving breakfast and lowering sodium content will be phased in over the next few years. While the program is outlined, it is easier said then done. Just last week, the USDA sent out a new policy that requires schools to offer more meats and breads, which is a challenge while remaining within the calorie requirements, local school officials said.
“Once you get one thing figured out, they change something else,” Kilburg said.
Despite the change to more health conscious meals, students have eaten school lunch as much as usual if not more so.
“We often run out of food,” Fulton High School head cook Debby Cossman said. “They are complaining less and the lunch count is up. We had chicken noodle soup the other day and they ate every last noodle.”
The meals also are opening new possibilities for kids.
“Now kids are trying things they might have never tried and often they actually like it,” River Bend Middle School head cook Carolyn Meurs said.
District wellness committee members gathered to discuss lunch choices at a meeting Wednesday. Supplementing hungry students with a la carte options, while emphasizing the reimbursable main meals, remained one of the biggest concerns.
Many of the a la carte options have been discontinued or limited due to the rules. Educators, cooks and other wellness committee members want to offer options for those still hungry after eating the regular lunch, while discouraging them from simply relying on the non-reimbursable options.
The committee is looking into offering protein bars, V8 juice, Gatorade, baked chips and cookies as a la carte options. A new alternate lunch will be added at Fulton High School starting in January.
“At first the new program led to a heated discussion, but now the focus on healthier meals has been accepted,” Superintendent Chuck Holliday said. “We just need to work on supplementing the meal program while supporting it at the same time.”
Fulton
Related Photos
-
Baker Lori Rose serves lunch to students at Fulton High School on Wednesday. Natalie Conrad/Clinton Herald
Discussion
River Bend students adjust to lunch guidelines
- Fulton
-
-
Warning siren to be tested Thursday in Fulton
A test of Fulton's new severe weather siren will be 10 a.m. Thursday.
-
SLIDESHOW: Dutch Days festival
Much-anticipated rain held off Saturday for the annual Dutch Days festival in Fulton, Ill., which was celebrating its 39th year of highlighting Dutch heritage.
- Sophomore coach is reinstated FULTON, Ill. -- It took 4 1/2 hours in closed session, but Jeff Hoese eventually earned reinstatement to two positions within the River Bend School District. River Bend School Board members deliberated from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Monday regarding personnel
-
Fulton deals with vandalism
FULTON, Ill. -- The city of Fulton hopes to discourage vandalism at the city parks. "Somebody is sick, sick, really sick," Alderman Eugene Field said. Field told the rest of the Fulton City Council that the restrooms at School Park on 10th Avenue wer
-
Driving down memory lane
FULTON, Ill. -- A program this weekend will feature a discussion on the Lincoln Highway. Lynn Asp, director of the Lincoln Highway Association headquarters in Franklin Grove, Ill., will present the program at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Fulton (Martin House
-
They've got the look: Students turn duct tape into wearable art
River Bend Middle School eighth-grade students strutted around the school's gymnasium Wednesday in dresses and other apparel made entirely out of duct tape.
-
Sales tax rejected
FULTON, Ill. -- A proposition that could have brought money into school districts in Whiteside County was once again voted down in Tuesday's election. A referendum for a county-wide 1 percent sales tax received 3,599 "yes" votes and 4,253 "no" votes
-
Fulton Book Club celebrates 40 years
For four decades a group of area women has fostered friendships and sharpened their wits through their love of reading and intelligent conversation.
-
Herald's Visitor and Newcomer Guide available for pickup
The Clinton Herald's 2013 Visitor and Newcomer Guide has arrived.
-
Cursive less prominent in area schools
Second-grade students across the Clinton Community School District start learning cursive in the beginning of April. While previous generations of students have worked to master the winding cursive alphabet, new curriculum standards mean current students face a less stringent cursive lesson.
- More Fulton Headlines
-
Warning siren to be tested Thursday in Fulton
