It's tough to change school lunches, even the federal government admits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is relaxing some new nutrition requirements for cafeterias. The backpedaling follows criticisms from educators, students and lawmakers of the first major overhaul in 15 years of guidelines for meals financed by a federal program providing free and reduced-price lunches.

The idea was to combat increases in childhood obesity and diabetes (high blood sugar) and influence lifelong eating habits by setting age-related calorie limits and serving more whole grains, fruits and vegetables or salads. Whole milk is out. Every student's tray must include a fresh, frozen or canned fruit and a carton of 1 percent or skim milk. But many students said they still were hungry after lunch, while some considered the new choices unappetizing. A parody video by Kansas high school students went viral.

Some administrators griped that dietary regulations taking effect last fall squeezed their lunch budgets. Local and state lawmakers, meanwhile, grumble about the government overstepping its authority and sticking its nose where it didn’t belong. Also, the rules were somewhat vague and interpreted differently around the country. Federal officials responded by lifting a cap on meat portions and loosening a requirement on grains. "We have recently moved to allow for additional flexibility in meeting some of the new standards,"Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says. And students still can buy additional food and drinks outside the lunchroom, even though many vending-machine favorites are high in sugar and calories.

Student says: "The lunch is good, but it's not filling us up completely. And some of the fruit does go in the garbage." – Diamond English, seventh-grader in New London, Conn.

Editorial says: "The intent of the new regulations was indeed good, although they were shortsighted and poorly executed." – The Daily Yankton Press & Dakotan in South Dakota

Dietitian says: "Some of the schools are finding the new menu patterns challenging. But students are getting used to it, and the more nutrition education they get, the better." -- Therese Dandeneau, Connecticut Department of Education

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