Utah school lunches getting healthier, but pricier

Canyons School District nutrition services director Sebasthian Varas said under the new guidelines, school lunch is healthier than ever. The biggest changes, he said, are the requirement that students select a fruit or vegetable each day and and maximum serving guidelines that encourage variety throughout the week.

Canyons is one of many districts that has not raised its prices. When the district was formed in 2009, officials began incorporating whole grains and fresh produce into school lunch that satisfy the federal requirements. He said the challenge for the district is the planning and scheduling required to make sure the lunch options include all the neccessary components and that specific items aren't served too frequently.

"We're trying to make it work so (students) won't see the impact so much," he said.

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