The Wentzville School District has already made changes to its student lunch menu in anticipation of new federal regulations that will begin to take effect beginning next school year. More are set to come.

The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, will change school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.

According to the school district's Facebook page, Wentzville students are already experiencing some of those changes.

Wentzville cafeterias are already serving fruits and vegetables on a daily basis and only offer 1 percent milk or skim milk. Sandwiches are now served on whole wheat bread and many entrees are now lower in sodium.

“The new nutrition standards for school meals are great news for our kids,” said Wentzville Child Nutrition Director Susan Raster on the district's Facebook page. “They will help nutrition professionals build on the work we are already doing to provide more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthier entrees in our school cafeterias.” 

Future changes include larger potions of fruits and vegetables, more whole grain bread options and foods with lower sodium.

“We hope parents will support this effort by encouraging their students to give the healthier meals a try,” Raster said. “Students are far more likely to pick up a fruit or vegetable in the lunch line if they have been introduced to those foods at home.”

For more on the new initiatives, CLICK HERE. 

What do you think? Should students be allowed to drink 2 percent milk if they so choose? Or are these regulations imperative for a healthier student?