Healthier School Lunches on the Menu

Ready or not, the new school year is around the corner and the state has just passed a new law encouraging public schools to offer healthier food choices. In Marblehead, school leaders say they're eager to implement any changes that will help kids grow up strong and fit.

The new law bans schools from using fryolators and requires them to sell fresh fruit and non-fried vegetables. It also asks the state Department of Public Health to develop nutrition standards for snacks sold in vending machines in schools.

Marblehead recently hired a new school nutrition director, Richard Kelleher, who arrives next week. He'll attend a state training session on the new lunch rules before school starts, said School Committee Chairwoman Patricia Blackmer.

 "It's important to have healthier food options," Blackmer said. "We have a wellness committee that's been trying to raise awareness and improve the heathfulness of our school lunches."

At the Marblehead Community Charter Public School, they're  ahead of the curve, offering healthy, often school-grown food for breakfast and lunch.

 "All students should have access to fresh whole foods without all the fillers and preservatives," said MCCPS chef Laura DeSantis. "As far as our menu, it won't change. We don't have a fryolator and we make everything from scratch so we know exactly what is going into everything we make. "

"I wish more schools would follow our lead. The students love it," she added.