Title: School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
Headings: School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
School Lunch Guidelines and Controversy
The School Lunch Guidelines
Funding Considerations
Common Criticisms
Overreach
Meal Appeal
Cost
Sufficient Calorie Content
Options for Schools
Opt-Out
Exemption or Delay

Content: Overreach
Some feel that the new specific standards are too strict and detailed, and therefore hard for schools to comply with. The USDA claims that the standards were designed to be the minimum and that many districts already had similar guidelines. This argument echoes the sentiment against Common Core State Standards . In both cases, very defined standards are being adopted nationwide. Because the United States educational system usually develops policies from the local level, some districts feel that the new standards rolling out nationwide are simply too "cookie cutter" and won't be in the best interest of local areas. Meal Appeal
Some parents and school district lunch administrators alike feel that the new limits on salt, sugar, and fat combined with increases in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will lead to meals that children simply won't eat . Parents have complained to their local schools that their children come home hungry after refusing to eat their school lunches, which the aforementioned reports of sales and discarded food echo. Some school lunchrooms have responded by adopting strategies to make healthier foods more appealing. Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab conducts research dedicated to the presentation of healthy food choices in lunchrooms to encourage children to make better choices. School Lunches Kids Want to Eat
Cost
Some administrators note that foods that fit the guidelines (fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain tortillas, buns, and brown rice, for example) typically cost more compared to those previously sourced to make school lunches.