The government already makes school kids buy broccoli...

In an answer to Justice Scalia's question about the government forcing people to buy broccoli, the federal government will be doing exactly that in school cafeterias around the nation as the Big Brother, nanny-state comes to school lunch programs next fall when Uncle Sam begins to tell kids what to eat and drink...

Cafeterias to require fruits and vegetables nationwide

By Brian McCready

Beginning next school year, students across the country may be in for a shock when they purchase their lunch in the cafeteria.

In an effort to fight childhood obesity and diabetes, the federal government is requiring students of all ages to buy at least one serving of fresh fruit or vegetable for lunch. Even if they toss the produce into the garbage.

Fresh fruit and vegetable portions will double next year. “Some students don’t take one now, but they will have to,” Eileen Faustich, Milford’s food services director, said Friday. “We can’t let a child go by the cashier without a fruit or vegetable on their tray.”

There’s more, a lot more, in the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act.

Next year, students can buy only nonfat flavored milk or 1 percent white milk. Half of the grains must be “whole” next year. In 2013-14, all products must be whole grain. School cafeterias must offer green and orange leafy vegetables, and drastically reduce sodium use over the next three years. Trans-fats are banned.

If a student refuses to take the fruit or vegetable, the cafeteria employees will have to charge an a la carte fee, which typically is higher because the lunch will not be reimbursable under federal guidelines.

The federal mandate will result in extra costs for municipalities nationwide. Federal officials estimate there will be a 30-cent increase in lunch prices, and the government will provide another 6-cent reimbursement.

It may be difficult for local school districts to not raise lunch prices, food service officials predict.

State Department of Education spokesman James Polites said if a student next year declined to take a fresh fruit or vegetable, the school system cannot claim the lunch for federal reimbursement....

Read more:
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2012/04/01/news/doc4f77cf1c4b99e507580020.txt