Great Idea: Pricier School Lunches Kids Won't Eat

Thanks to the Obamas' Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, kids heading back to school will be served lunches that cost more and have a greater likelihood of ending up in the trash.

These are the USDA's first major changes in school meal requirements in 15 years. “The new federal guidelines," the Levittown (NY) Patch reports, "require most schools to 'increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat- free and low-fat fluid milk in school meals; reduce the levels of sodium, saturated fat and trans fat in meals; and meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements,' according to the program's summary.

“On the surface, the concept makes sense, but the changes are detailed and complicated.”

Kentucky.com reports that the cost of school lunches will go up about 15 cents per meal. That is, if the student's family actually pays for the food. “Students who receive free-or-reduced-cost lunches based on their families' incomes and will not be affected.” (Well, there are a lot of unemployed people these days who need help, right President Obama?)

The new lunches will come with more vegetables which—let's face it—kids probably won't eat (unless Michelle's minions will be force-feeding them). I saw that the lunch menu for my kids' school had either cherry tomatoes and tomato slices almost every day of the week. How many kids do you know who would eat tomatoes that often? I'd wager that more of those cherry tomatoes will be thrown either at other students or in the trash can than end up in the kids' mouths.

As Sherri DiNello, director of business and finance for Southington, CT public schools, says, “Our biggest concern is that the students aren’t going to embrace the changes. I’m hoping students are willing to try. My biggest fear is waste. I’m afraid it will end up in the garbage.”

So, basically, the red tape and waste (but maybe not so much of the “pork”) we expect from Big Government has arrived in the nation's school cafeterias. And did I mention no more chocolate milk? Boo, people.