School lunch gets a makeover

The American school lunch, long the butt of schoolyard jokes, is in for a nutritional makeover, fueled by concern over a national epidemic of childhood obesity and funded by the first hike in federal contributions in three decades. Starting next school year, U.S. schoolchildren will see changes in school lunch programs that are expected to bring fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and potentially smaller portions to every meal served in the nation's schools and at nonprofit childcare centers.

By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog

January 25, 2012