Between 2003 and 2007, the state of North Carolina lost more than $10 million in its child-nutrition programs, going from a $5.6 million profit to a $5.7 million loss. Officials say the loss was primarily caused by increased costs associated with introducing healthier foods into school meal programs.
"Schools began offering healthier a la carte items in cafeterias, but those items cost more, Hoggard said. For example, the cost of 240 regular cookies is about $41, but the cost of 240 reduced-fat, whole-grain cookies is about $55. And those healthier items don't sell as well..."
Lynn Hoggard, section chief for child nutrition in North Carolina, estimates that it could cost between $15 million and $20 million to implement the necessary nutrition changes. Read more at StarNewsOnline.com.
Labels: healthy_eating, nutrition, schools