By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-985562.mp3
Lansing, MI – The Lansing school district has started a federal pilot program that provides all students with free breakfast and lunch each school day. It's the largest national nutrition reform program of its kind in 30 years.
Michigan is one of only three states involved in the program, and Lansing is the only district in the Ingham, Eaton and Clinton county region. The three-year initiative supersedes the free and reduced lunch program and enables Lansing to provide healthier menus.
"In the Lansing school district, we have eliminated all fryers; all of our products are baked," says Aramark food service director Kirk Valkner. "We have whole grain, whole wheat breads that we use; all of our products we use for breakfast are higher in fiber, lower in calorie."
Superintendent T.C. Wallace says he believes the meal program has the potential to help Lansing maintain and even increase its enrollment as a selling point for families with school-aged children.