New changes have been implemented to this year’s lunch menu, following Carmel Clay Schools’ new nutritional guidelines, which are in accordance with the new USDA guidelines. According to cafeteria assistant manager Holly Hull,  the changes have been already made to the menu.

“The new nutritional guidelines is something that we are trying to educate this year,” she said. In order to be charged a full lunch, students will have to choose both a fruit and vegetable side, as well as an entrée with a milk. Serving sizes of both fruit and vegetable sides have increased to a full cup. The cafeteria has also color-coded the food groups, and students must choose three different colors in order to have a full lunch.

“For a main entrée, it has to meet a certain amount of proteins and grains,” Hull said. New USDA guidelines require school lunch entrées meet a certain protein and grain requirement. Items from last year’s menu that do not meet the protein or grain requirements have been discarded and will no longer be available for lunch. The district is also switching grains in entrées to whole grains. School lunch items and recipes are finalized by Rachel Miller, Carmel Clay Schools dietician.

Despite the new protein and grain requirements, new lunch items have also been added to the menu. There is a larger variety of fruits and vegetables this year, allowing students to have more healthy options to choose from. “I think there’s a lot to offer, and hopefully someone can find something that they like,” said Hull.