Schools

One month after a July 1 deadline set by the Tennessee State Board of Education and as part of a nutritional standards pilot program, the Metro Nashville Public Schools Food Services Department is installing new equipment in 18 of its middle school cafeterias.

For example, state regulations now require that all K-8 public schools in Tennessee limit beverage size to eight ounces, offer no carbonated beverages and serve food with a fat content of no more than 30 percent.

Spurred by the state, MNPS cafeterias have undergone significant menu changes, with those in K-4 now fully compliant, according to Jay Nelson, MNPS Food Services Department director. Nelson said the system spent approximately $600,000 to implement the changes.

Now, Food Services is removing frying equipment from several middle school cafeterias and installing new