School lunch menus aim to inspire healthy choices

Christopher Ortiz, (Bio) cortiz@greeleytribune.com
March 28, 2008

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Gone are the days in school cafeterias of lunch ladies in hairnets schlepping sloppy Joes.

Nowadays, students have many more options, and those options increase as they get older.

In elementary and middle school, the only option they have is what is served in the cafeteria. By the time they reach high school, not only can some students leave campus, but they can choose from Domino's Pizza and Subway. School officials in Greeley are trying to instill in young students the values of nutrition and healthy foods so when they are faced with a choice between pizza and salad, they'll go green -- at least from time to time.

"We all know what children eat affects their learning," said Mona Martinez-Brosh, the nutrition procurement director for Greeley-Evans District 6. "If they eat breakfast, they will do better than they would without breakfast."

School officials are trying to improve the lunches offered at school by including fresh fruit and more organic offerings. With thousands of lunches to prepare each day, it can be a challenge.

For more about this issue, read the cover story of the HealthBeat section inside today's Tribune.

Click here to see the HealthBeat section online.