Healthier School Lunches

School children would have to hold the fries — and pick up more whole grains, fruits and vegetables — on the lunch line under proposed new federal standards for school lunches.

The new standards from the Agriculture Department would be the first major nutritional overhaul of school meals in 15 years. They are expected to be announced Thursday.

The guidelines would require schools to cut sodium in those meals by more than half, use only whole grains and serve low-fat milk. It also would limit kids to only one cup of starchy vegetables a week, so schools couldn't offer french fries every day.

President Barack Obama recently signed into law a child nutrition bill that will help schools pay for the healthier foods, which are often more expensive.

 Courtesy - The Associated Press.