Local students are warming up to healthy school lunches

Students have been eating the new “healthy” school lunches for weeks now. The fried food is out and the fruits and vegetables are in.

“I feel bad because there’s no sweets,” said Edna Gerard, a cafeteria worker.

Gerard has been serving food at Bonneville District 93 for 35 years. And as a mother and grandmother, she knows almost every child has a sweet tooth.

“They miss it and you know very well when they open the door to their house that’s the first thing they’re going to do is go to the fridge or the cookie jar and get something to eat,” said Gerard.

School administrators said it’s all about a healthy approach. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein.

“The kids know we switched the pizza crust and the buns,” said Heather Plain, food services director. “Some weren’t so happy, but they’re starting to get used to the fact that they’re whole grains and they’re healthier.”

District 93 invited Stephanie Hale-Lopez to have lunch with 7th graders to try the food and talk to students about what their favorite items on the menu are.

For most, the new items will take some getting used to, but there is a way parents can help.

“If the parent will model the behavior, that’s really the best thing,” said Plain. “If kids are used to seeing those things at home then it won’t be such a switch.”

Schools have an incentive to follow the new healthy food guidelines in the form of a reimbursement of six cents per tray.

Watch the video to see how the students reacted to the new menu.