First Lady wants better school lunches

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - That frozen pizza your child eats in school is about to get a makeover. First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced higher nutrition standards for school lunches.

Starting next year, the meals will have more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Pizzas will stay on the menu, but it will be made with healthier ingredients. Salt limitations will also be instituted over the next decade.

"When we send our kids to school, we have a right to expect they won't be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we're trying to keep from them when they're at home," Michelle Obama said.

Schools that meet the new requirements will receive an extra six cents in federal funding per meal. Each school district must figure out on its own how to adjust their budget to meet the guidelines.

Norfolk Public Schools Nutrition Director Helen Phillips was onstage with the First Lady when the new federal standards were announced.

Philips said Norfolk schools have already met many of the requirements, including TruMoo milk with less added sugar, whole wheat rolls, seasonal salads, and fruits and vegetables as a side every day. The school system has also added vegetarian options to its menu.

NPS says all school meals are planned with the USDA's dietary guidelines in mind.

Click here to read about other nutritional changes NPS has made.