Lisle School District Adds Eating Right to its Lesson Plans

The lunch menus in Lisle public schools would get high marks for the healthy changes being served this year. Lisle Community School District 202 lunchrooms are offering more grains, fruits and vegetables and fat-free milk—and fewer desserts, in compliance with new federal school meal requirements.

“The new menus are designed to ensure that students receive a balanced meal, consisting of foods from all major food groups in the right proportions to meet calorie and other nutrient needs,” according to a letter Aramark, the district’s food services provider, sent to parents. "We are proud to serve nutritious foods to your child and encourage you to support our ongoing efforts to improve student health and well-being by participating in our Food Service program."

The letter outlines the changes:

More whole grains will be available. (Half of the grain items served this year will be whole grain.)

• Students must take at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetable each day.
• Flavored milk will only be available as fat-free or skim, but unflavored or white milk may be skim or 1%.
• Fewer desserts will be offered, as the new nutrition standards focus on obtaining calories and other key nutrients from fruits, vegetables, protein foods, grains and milk.

For more information about the menus, visit lisle.dupage.k12.il.us and click the “menu” link. To learn more about healthy school meals visit fns.usda.gov or myhealthyforlife.com.