Recent changes to federal school nutrition guidelines could mean some extra costs and oversight for school districts throughout the region, but also will lead to healthier meals, local school officials said.

Last month, federal officials announced the new rules, which eventually will require meals to have less sodium, a higher percentage of whole grains, and a wider selection of fruits and vegetables.

"They've dropped some of the grain requirements and they've really enhanced some of the fruit and vegetable requirements," said Jeff Landers, child nutrition services director for the Vista Unified School District.

They also will set a calorie limit for the first time and ban most trans fats, which aren't allowed in California schools anyway.

Some of the changes will take effect this fall; others will be phased in over 10 years.

Many North County districts ---- such as San Marcos Unified, Escondido Unified, Vista Unified and Oceanside Unified ---- have already started to offer more fruit and whole-grain products, officials said.

"I feel very confident, very comfortable, with where we are and where we're going," said Gail Gousha, director of nutrition services for the Escondido Union School District. "I don't see a huge change in our program."

The district already offers lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains each day, she said.

In San Marcos, school officials have been preparing for the changes for a couple of years, said Dena England, director of the child nutrition services department in the San Marcos Unified School District.

They have added salads, whole-grain products and some unique items such as fresh soy beans and hummus, she said.

Many districts offer students fresh fruit and vegetables, but beginning in the fall, students will be required to have a certain amount of each. Schools also will need to offer different types of vegetables throughout the week.

Though most of the changes probably won't increase the price of meals, offering more fresh fruits and vegetable and more whole-grain products could, officials said.

"It's going to be difficult because fresh fruit obviously costs a lot more than canned fruit," England said. "It's definitely going to be a higher cost."

How much more the new meal plans will cost will depend on food prices, she said.

Districts will get some extra money from the federal government to help cover the changes, but local school officials said they're not sure that it will be enough.

The new rules are the first major overhaul of school meals in more than 15 years.

New sodium limits will be phased in in five-year increments between 2014 and 2022. It will be mostly up to food suppliers to make changes in the salt content of the meals they offer, school officials said.

Starting next year, milk will have to be low-fat and flavored milks will have to be nonfat.

School districts in California already have higher standards than the federal requirements, so the changes won't affect schools here as much as they will in some other states.

"California is just way ahead of the game," Gousha said. "The nation's finally catching up with us."

Call staff writer Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009 or follow him on Twitter @NCTcoastschools.

 

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REGION: New federal nutrition guidelines could affect local schools