Do NJ school lunches need to better reflect cultural food preferences?

CLAYTON, N.J. — Long the butt of bad jokes, school lunches have come a long way since "mystery meat" and pizza on Friday.

But a bill to be considered Thursday by a state Assembly panel would ask middle and high schools to set up advisory committees to recommend breakfast and lunch dishes that would "better reflect the cultural food preferences of the student body.

Passage of the bill (A3360) could mean a more varied menu catering to students' similarly varied backgrounds — think ethnic make-up, vegetarians, vegans or gluten-free eaters.