Cobb School Food Prices Going Up

West Cobb parents paying full price for their children's school lunches will have to dig a little deeper next school year.

The Cobb County School District on Thursday announced that it will raise prices in its cafeterias for the 2012-13 school year, which begins in mid-August. 

The district said in a written release that the price increases are its first in 11 years and primarily result from healthier menu options that include more whole grains, more fresh fruits and vegetables, and less salt.

Those changes are part of the U.S. Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

The additional costs also reflect cost makeups tied to federal subsidies.

How do you feel about paying more to get healthier food for your kids? Tell us in the comment space below.

The new prices are 25 cents higher for breakfast and 50 cents higher for lunch for students. That's a 25 percent increase across the board for breakfast and 26 percent to 30 percent for lunch.

Adult lunches will go up 25 cents, while guest lunches will cost 50 cents more. 

Adult breakfasts will remain $1.50.

The school system also said costs for cafeteria personnel are on the rise, with health insurance contributions increasing from $2.6 million to $4.3 million in fiscal 2013, an additional $1.5 million in fiscal 2014 and $1.5 million more in fiscal 2015.