No one is exempt from the pressure of rising fuel and food prices... including Duluth Public Schools.

A little tweaking, and teamwork was needed to prepare to feed thousands of students each day.

Just a quick walk through the grocery store reveals food prices aren't like they used to be.

"We've seen increases that generally have ranged between 8 and 12 percent on most of our food commodities and as a result has led to some increases in our school lunch prices," said Bill Hanson, CFO/Executive Director of Business Services for Duluth Public Schools.

Students will have to pay an extra quarter for a standard lunch... adults will see a fifty - cent increase.

"I think for the most part it's something that people understand because they're dealing with the same issue at home as they go to the store and look at milk and bread and other commodities," Hanson said.

On top of feeding students on a budget... there's also been a push to serve healthier meals.

Most students don't like the idea of whole grains and vegetables, but parents should be happy to hear the school lunch menu will now include all of the above.

"We went to wheat whole wheat type whole grains we emphasized that this year so all of our hamburger buns hot dog buns and most of our bread selections will be wheat and then we are also emphasizing in the middle schools our salad lunches and our milk consumption because with middle school children milk consumption tends to fall off," said Pam Bowe, RDLD, dietician/Supervisor for the Child Nutrition Department.

A hundred thousand dollar grant from the department of Defense helps stretch the budget and allow the district to buy vegetables and fruits throughout the year.

"Sometimes we wouldn't necessarily have access to that here during the winter months but because we can look nationwide our vendor is able to supply us," Bowe said.

The district also joined a buying consortium with other Minnesota School districts.

Just like buying in bulk saves businesses money, this consortium should have the same effect.

Soda and candy bars will no longer be available in vending machines. They will be replaced with water, 100%, and snacks like granola bars.