HARLINGEN — The school district has implemented the latest nutrition changes in school lunches that mean less take-out food, less chocolate and less fizzy soda.

HARLINGEN — The school district has implemented the latest nutrition changes in school lunches that mean less take-out food, less chocolate and less fizzy soda.

Scientists are pushing to increase whole grain foods in our diet because nutritional deficiencies causes over eating and we all know that over-eating causes obesity which lead to all kinds of health problems.So said researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture

School gardens show kids where their food comes from.

Nutrition standards would allow plain bottled water and 8 ounce servings of fruit juice or plain or flavored low-fat milk to be sold in elementary/middle schools. High school students could also buy diet soda or, in places like school gyms, sports drinks. And food for sale would have to be limited in saturated and trans fat with less than 35% sugar

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was established in August 8, 1969. FNS is the Federal agency responsible for administering the nation’s domestic nutrition assistance programs. It administers the programs through its Headquarters (HQ) in Alexandria, VA; Regional offices (ROs) in San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, and Robbinsville (NJ); and field offices throughout the US. While its staff number amongst USDA's fewest, its budget is by far the largest. ServicesFNS products and services enhance the lives of one in five Americans; its main products and services include:commodities supplied as: prepared meals that are served at congregate feeding sites; food packages that may be used for home consumption; and disaster relief assistance;food assistance through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards; nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free meals and snacks; vouchers; and, fresh, locally grown produce;nutrition education and promotion materials and presentations delivered by expert staff and senior managers; andfood safety and security efforts, technical assistance and informational materials. Nutrition assistance programsThese products and services are provided to customers through fifteen domestic nutrition assistance programs:Food Stamp Program (FSP)National School Lunch Program (NSLP)School Breakfast Program (SBP)Special Milk Program (SMP)Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)Pacific Island Assistance ProgramNutrition Assistance Block Grants, including Nutrition Assistance for Puerto RicoFresh Fruit and Vegetable ProgramIn the United States, the lunches that are subsidized by the NSLP are nearly ubiquitous in public schools. The program has operated since 1946.The FNS is in charge of the national "Eat Smart, Play Hard" campaign which encourages Americans (more specifically, children and teens) to follow the healthy eating guidelines set by MyPyramid. The spokescharacter of the "Eat Smart, Play Hard" campaign is Power Panther.