ATLANTA, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- An electronic payment system for school lunches now allows parents in some U.S. districts to monitor their children's eating habits.
MealPay introduced the history feature this year, testing it in four districts in Georgia, USA Today reports. Parents can go on line and follow their children's purchases for the past month.
"It's a stepping stone for parents to get involved," Cynthia Downs, executive director of food and nutrition services for the Cobb County school district, told the newspaper.
Experts say that parents can use the feature to discuss healthy nutrition with their children or to add vegetables and fruit to home dinners if the children aren't getting them at school. They can also educate children on responsible spending.
MealPay is now used in 75 districts in 21 states. The system allows parents to deposit money in their children's accounts, and they then pay for food in school cafeterias by using a card or giving a PIN number.
