Ask the Patch Pros: How To Ensure Your Child Eats a Healthy Lunch?

In July all school lunch programs had to align their menus with Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. Complying with the program means increased federal funding for schools that do, but students might not be too happy with that.

Now, half the meal is made up of fruits and vegetables. All milk is low fat and breads are whole grains. Students who don't put at least half a cup of vegetables or fruits on their tray must pay for items a la carte boosting lunch bills.

Though the recent changes could help Iowa reach Gov. Terry Branstad's goal of becoming the healthiest state in the country, some say students just throw most of their lunches away since they aren't yet used to eating increased servings of fruits and vegetables.

This weeks Patch Pros will offer suggestions on how to encourage your children to eat healthier meals or what kind of healthy foods to send with your child if school served lunches aren't an option for you.

Participating pros are:

Sanja Cooklin, Empowerment & Nutritional Cleansing Coach of Ames.

Judith Trumpy, a retired registered dietitian of Ames.

LaRae Doll, director nutrition service Johnston Community School District.

Jacque Bilyeu-Holmes, Farm to School coordinator, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education Farm to School partnership, in Cedar Falls.

Heather Illg, RD, LC Dietician at Urbandale Hy-Vee in Urbandale.

Elizabeth Pohlman, RD, LD Dietician Urbandale Hy-Vee  in Urbandale.