SACS lunches face changes once again

By Brooke Lilley
    Every year when students arrive back to school they find themselves facing new changes and this year is no exception at Southern Aroostook Community School. The 2012-13 school year has brought many new changes to the lunch program, including portion control, higher prices, and new legal requirements.
    The new lunch program requires that students have at least 1⁄2 cup of vegetables or fruits on their tray. The lunch staff is now required to count the amount of grains being served, serve specific colored vegetables during the week, including the colors orange, red and green. The school is now required to serve some type of beans at least once a week. The lunch staff will now also have to create a menu board with every meal component labeled and displayed in the cafeteria.
    All of these changes have occurred due to Michelle Obama’s fight for healthier meals, according to Gayle Glidden, food service director for RSU 50. 
    Lunch prices have also increased by five cents, raising the full price of student lunches to $2.05. When asked how the public and students are reacting to these changes, Glidden claims that “It’s too early to tell.”
    The federal program that provides students from kindergarten to eighth grade with fresh fruits and vegetables for snack time is being continued. This program offers students an opportunity to try new things. According to Glidden, “Some students don’t even know what some foods are.” The lunch staff are working to meet these new requirements and the school’s needs as well.