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CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out new mandates Wednesday for school lunches. It's part of First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative to combat childhood obesity.

Cafeteria workers at Phillip O'Berry Academy were busy gearing up for lunch. Friday's menu included nachos and cheese, broccoli and seasoned fries. But next school year, that menu will look a little different.

The agriculture department distributed this 280-page mandate to every district in the country, laying down new school lunch restrictions – the first time in 15 years.

"One of the major things is that students will have to take a fruit or vegetable at lunch," Amy Harkey, Assistant Director for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Child Nutrition Services said.
But many districts across the state, are already ahead of the curve.

Harkey says the district started incorporating healthier options to their menus 10 years ago.

"One of the recommendations is to increase fruits and vegetables, we have seven to eight fruits and vegetables daily,” Harkey said. “We use whole-grain hamburger buns and hot dog buns."

Menus will include more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, reducing salt, fat even calories. So instead of french fries, they might have sweet potato fries and low-fat milk instead of whole milk.

But with lawmakers gutting $500 million from next year's school budget many wonder how are districts going to pay for the new healthier choices?

Harkey said at some point they'll have to pass on the cost to families.

"Money is going to be tight for many districts trying to make this move,” she said. “Gradually that paid price has to go up to whatever the government reimbursement is for the meal."

And that's something many parents will have a tough time swallowing.

The new guidelines will go into effect July 1, 2012. Most will be phased in over three years. Districts have 10 years to meet sodium standards.