Ill. district sees improvement in lunch after dropping NSLP

Even though they lose out on sizable reimbursements, some local districts have opted out of the federal lunch program. They fund school meals independently instead.

The latest district to do so, St. Anthony Schools, dropped out this fall. In a letter to parents, the district cited the federal lunch program's small portion sizes and distasteful foods as reasons for the switch to an independent program.

Enacted in 2012, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by First Lady Michelle Obama aimed to lessen the prevalence of obesity among young Americans by providing low-calorie lunches with whole grains and fat-free foods.

To cover the loss of reimbursement money, lunches at the St. Anthony Schools are now 45 cents higher than last year's price.

Despite the higher cost, school officials say that more students are buying the hot lunches each day.

"We've certainly seen an increase in the hot lunch program," said Carrie Koenig, director of operations for the schools.

"Kids seem to enjoy the lunch much more and more students appear to be eating it," added Greg Fearday, principal of St. Anthony High School.

While St. Anthony Freshmen Quinton Milleville and Wade Wenthe ate their hot lunches Wednesday, they said the district's change from the federal program was a good move.