About 1,000 Minnesota schools, tasked with providing healthy but flavorful food, looked for new items to add to this year's school lunch menu Tuesday.
The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) hosted its annual state conference in St. Cloud. Nutrition professionals tested new foods and attended educational sessions to strengthen their menus.
"They're looking for new ideas and things to change up their menus," Mary Fish, the former MSNA president, said.
For five years schools have been adjusting to the National School Lunch Program's requirements. The program reduces sodium, fat and calories in meals, while increasing the availability of fruits vegetables and whole grains. It's left some schools abandoning the program to save money or provide different portion sizes.
Janeen Peterson, the Child Nutrition Director for Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, had a little more freedom at this year's conference. Prior Lake High School is one of just three in Minnesota to opt out of the federal program. Peterson said the school's decision has other nutrition professionals curious.
"People mainly ask, 'Well, what are you going to be serving?'" Peterson said. "I tell them we'll be serving a lot of the same things. The same healthy foods, but just maybe different portion sizes."