Whitney Marie Halaby ‘14

For years the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been trying to improve public school meals, and its efforts have increased over the past five years as youth obesity and diabetes have skyrocketed. Two weeks ago, Congress passed a new law that will make it mandatory for all public schools’ meals to have twice as many fruits and vegetables, less fat and sodium, and only fat-free and low-fat milk.

A $3.2 billion increase in the USDA’s budget will spur a change to public school menus for the first time in 15 years. First Lady Michelle Obama has been pushing for a change in public school meals since her husband was elected into office, because she feels that it is important that students have an opportunity to eat healthy food. This new bill will take effect in the 2012-2013 school year, and schools will receive a six-percent increase in their reimbursement from the federal government for complying with the law.