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Federal Gov't Making School Lunches Healthier For Kids

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – School lunches for kids are about to get a lot healthier.

The government is announcing new nutrition standards for school meals. First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack went to lunch at an Alexandria, Va., school on Wednesday to announce the new guidelines.

They include serving fruits and vegetables every day of the week, more whole grains and less salt and fat. Schools will also have to serve low fat milk, and limit calories by controlling portion size.

"When we send our kids to school we have a right to expect that they won't be eating the kinds of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we're trying to keep from them when they are at home," Obama said.

These new rules are the first major changes to school nutrition in 15 years. They aren't as aggressive as the Obama administration wanted. Congress blocked some changes that would have limited french fries and pizzas.

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