Schools that serve government supported meals have recently been given more flexibility in this task by allowing the schools to provide an average of appropriate nutrients over a weeks time. The lunches are still nutritious overall, however, this allows the opportunity to include more of the popular dishes. Many of the school lunches were not what the students were used to, or desired to eat. Dietitians and government officials recognized that serving a lunch that is healthy does not accomplish any goals if the students do not eat them. Designing menus that are nutritious and palatable to the students is a constant challenge.
Many children prefer fast food meals that fall short in food groups such as fruits and vegetables.
There are a large number of children that rely on government sponsored school lunches, especially in Arizona. Tucson Unified School District has approximately half of its student body qualifying for free or reduced lunch. These children have a higher risk of becoming malnourished than those students that do not qualify, therefore, the nutrients standards for school lunches can make an impact. The challenge is to introduce good nutrition awareness at an early age. The spurt of growth that commences with the onset of puberty results in nutrient needs for teenagers which are about the highest point in life.