CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (AP) - A high school in southern Maine has joined at least two other high schools in the state that have pulled out of the federal school lunch program.
Maine Public reports that Cape Elizabeth High School officials said that the federal guidelines are too stringent.
The over 70-year-old program subsidizes meals for students eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. About three percent of Cape Elizabeth High School students qualify for such subsidies.
The federal program in recent years has promoted healthy meals by requiring more whole grains and limiting calories and sodium.
Nutrition director Peter Esposito says the changes have caused Cape Elizabeth’s high school to remove food that kids like, such as bagels, pretzels and a homemade soup. School officials said some kids threw away parts of meals.
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