From the early morning to afternoon, the cafeteria at Harriton High School in Lower Merion is one hectic place.
The school district serves more than 7,000 meals a day and students want variety.
"You've got the breakfast sandwich, you've got pizza, sandwiches, sushi on Thursdays, and salads. It just depends on what I'm feeling," said Zico Gaeffke, a senior.
For some, options really are a must.
"I am a very picky eater - very picky," said Jalen Dungee.
Throughout the summer, the food staff will be working to continue getting reimbursements for meals and schools will have to meet new federal nutrition rules.
Some of the new regulations will go into effect July 1. For instance, students will have to take at least one fruit or vegetable per meal.
"You have to make sure that you have dark leafy greens, you need to have the red and orange, you need to have legumes - and you need to make sure you are rotating that weekly," said Karen Castaneda the Nutrition Services Director.
At least 50 percent of the breads, cereals, and pizza doughs must be rich in whole grains and by 2014, that goes up to 100 percent.
Along with that, flavored milk has to be nonfat and plain milk must be 1 percent or nonfat.
There will also be sodium and calorie limits.
"There's now going to be a minimum and a maximum. Before, there was only a minimum calorie level," said Castaneda.
To meet the new rules, schools will get 6 cents more per meal, but that may not be enough for some districts.
Although Lower Merion should be fine budget-wise, Castanada says meeting the new vegetable standards will take some creative cooking.
"To kind of experiment, I think with soups and sauces and how to incorporate more vegetables," she said.
School food directors have put together a website called Tray Talk. It gives more details, answers some common questions and you can share your success stories and suggestions.
