School Lean More on U.S. to Buy Lunch

Providing more fruits and veggies to kids in schools means relying on commodities. When was the last time you spent 50 cents for lunch? For millions of kids eating public school fare these days, it is just about every day. School cafeterias get up to $2.47 a student from the U.S. government to serve lunch. After expenses such as labor, transportation, utilities and equipment, schools are left with a little more than $1 to put food on a tray. Costs typically include 25 cents for a carton of milk, about 25 cents for fruit, and additional money if they also serve vegetables. About 50 cents is left for an entree. While many students pay for at least a part of their lunch, as the student contribution rises, the part covered by the government drops, leaving schools to cover the difference. It isn't hard to see there is trouble ahead.