School officials in Lafayette want your children eating in the cafeteria. In celebration of National School Lunch Week. They are trying to get out the message that lunches are healthier than ever before. The push is on for Lafayette Parish Students to eat school-prepared lunches.
"We want to get the community and parents to understand its so important to eat lunch but to also eat a nutrition balanced lunch," said Amy Fremin National Education Coordinator.
Child Nutrition Services with the Lafayette Parish School System say school lunch has always been healthy but they've made changes to meet the guidelines of the USDA. All lunches include whole-gain rich foods.
students must choose at least one fruit or vegetable or more if they like.
also all lunch meals have calorie ranges for specific ages and grades.
"It does meet one third of the students daily recommendations as far as vitamins, minerals, calories, saturated, trans fat and all of the nutrients they need," said Fremin.
She also says it's important for students to eat lunch so they can be at their maximum potential to learn, study and be active.
"It is our top priority to meet all the health needs of all the students in our district. We alternate meals in our middle in high schools to try to meet the needs of all the students cause we do know as they get older their desires and likes change," said Fremin.