Earlier this year, first lady Michelle Obama announced changes to the national school lunch program that included more variety of fruits and vegetables, less high-fat food, and a limit on the amount of meat and grain meals can contain.

But many school administrators have protested, saying the new regime leaves children hungry and places undue burden on local school districts.

The USDA has relented, allowing more flexibility with regards to grains and meat in school meals. The calorie cap on meals will not be raised, however.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pointed out children were never supposed to get all of their nutritional requirements from school lunches -- they supplement what children also eat at home.

Read More:

• USDA backpedals on healthy school-lunch rules (Grist)
• USDA makes changes to controversial school lunch rules (WSLS)