A new and improved school lunch menu that includes special meals for kids with food allergies is debuting in Arlington Heights School District 25, and officials hope it will reverse the recent decline in participation..
As part of the National School Lunch Program, the district receives state and federal funding for meals. Last school year, that added up to $304,128 in federal funding, and $2,239 from the state, said Director of Food Services Coletta Hines-Newell.
Participation in the federal program also requires following nutritional regulations, which Hines-Newell said is one reason behind the 15 percent drop in lunches purchased.
"There needed to be nutritional changes in the federal school lunch program, which wasn't as hard for us to make as some other schools, as we were already using healthy products like whole grain bread," Hines-Newell said. "But some of the federal changes our students did balk at – like when the students had to take one of the fruits or vegetables they didn't want -- and that's when I started losing business.
"I think the parents in our community have done a great job teaching their kids that you just don't waste food, and I understand their logic," she said.
In addition, some families are still struggling to make ends meet in a post-recession economy, Hines-Newell said, and packing a lunch might be viewed as more budget-friendly.
Nationwide, participation in the National School Lunch Program has been rising among low-income children and declining among children who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals, according to a recent report from the USDA.