The Oregon Department of Educations School Nutrition Department announced recently the Hermiston School District passed a National School Lunch Program menu validation review.

Schools in the district fully complied with rigorous new meal standards outlined in the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2012, where schools must meet daily and weekly requirements for fruit, vegetables and food subgroups, including grains, protein and milk.

Hermiston School District Food Service Director Betsy Heath said the district also has to meet caloric ranges for each of the age groups they feed.

Chartwells, a company that works with schools to develop meal plans, assisted the Hermiston School District in developing a healthy meal plan that also appeals to students.

Heath said one of the toughest aspects in meeting school meal standards was identifying food products that are available that meet the new standards.

Heath said planning menus and having students accept the prepared menu items also present challenges.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture did, however, lift the grain and protein maximum requirements, which allowed for easier meal planning and greater student acceptance, she said. Some of the regularly included items in a student lunch include a main entree, hot vegetable, fruit and veggie bar and a choice of milk.

Students must take a full serving of fruit or vegetable to qualify the meal, Heath said.

Jon Mishra, district director of operations and business services, said Hermiston was one of the first districts in the state of Oregon to implement fresh and healthy salad bars at all serving sites.

This progressive attitude has enabled us to ensure quality service to our students, he said.

Mishra said one of the things the district is most proud of about its lunch program is the fact students have a variety of meal options from which to choose.

The food service staff does a really good job of making those meals appealing for kids, he said.