Preparing for School Lunches

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday night was revealed out to have been the one Cabinet member who traditionally stays away from the State of the Union address as a security precaution.

That assignment may have given him more time to prepare for his department's big event on Wednesday, the rollout in Fairfax, Va., with First Lady Michelle Obama, of new federal standards for school meals affecting 32 million school children.

The standards, which were last revised 15 years ago, are designed so that students are offered both fruits and vegetables daily; that they are served more grain-rich foods; that they drink fat-free or low-fat milk; that their total calories are limited depending on a child's age; and that they consume less saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

"Improving the quality of the school meals is a critical step in building a healthy future for our kids," said Vilsack. "When it comes to our children, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition they need to be healthy, active and ready to face the future - today we take an important step towards that goal."