Jan. 10—When Yankton (S.D.) School District food services director Sandi Kramer read the first few lines of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest rules for school nutrition programs last month, she was excited.
In response to public feedback criticizing the previous guidelines implemented at the beginning of the school year, the USDA had decided to relax its restrictions and allow more meat and grains in meals.
“But then I read the rest of it, and the calorie restrictions were still the same,” Kramer said. “It didn’t give us a whole lot to work with.”
The students and staff at the Yankton schools have since worked to adjust to the latest rules. And while Kramer said the changes weren’t as helpful as she had hoped, they have provided some flexibility.