Bay Area Nutritionists Support New School Lunch Guidelines

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)- It's being called an aggressive step in fighting the nation's childhood obesity epidemic: new federal guidelines that will cut the "junk" out of our school cafeterias.

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

A new Agriculture Department proposal announced this week would require schools to use more whole grains, serve low-fat milk, and cut out the french fries. It would be the first nutritional overhaul in over a decade.

"All schools, I think, nationwide, if they had the budget they would serve the freshest, best food they could make," said Diane Deshler, director of food services for the Acalanes Union High School District in the East Bay.

Deshler reminds parents that schools can only do so much, and healthy choices at home are very important as well. She said studies prove that a child's eating habits are already well-established before they get to kindergarten.

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