The Fresno Unified School District has received a poor grade in nutrition. According to a school lunch report card survey, Fresno Unified needs more healthy menu options for it's students. But school officials say that's not true.
Fresno Unified didn't fail this report card, but it came pretty close. It was given a D+ score.
The survey was conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and was based largely on vegetarian and vegan menu options.
It looked at 1 of 27 menus prepared by the school district and concluded that kids are only offered vegetarian meals once or twice a week.
The meals do include fresh fruits and vegetables but many of them also contain red meat.
School officials however say the meals are healthy without being strictly vegetarian. The district says it stays away from using processed foods and meats and piles on fruits and vegetables.
"We're providing their students everyday one of the most highly nutritious meals that they can receive for breakfast and lunch. We want to give our students a lot of choices, we want to let students have options where they can choose so they can learn to make healthy choices," says Jose Alvarado, Director of Food Services.
Alvarado says he thinks the district should have received at least an A-score for the healthy options they do provide students. He says that likely would have happened if the survey wasn't focused so much on vegetarian and vegan meals.
20 school districts across the country participated in the voluntary survey. Fresno Unified was one of five who received a D grade.
TXT 24
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