A new lunch menu will be available to students at P.S. 217 in Ditmas Park after months of requests by parents.

Students and local leaders cut the ribbon Friday on a new salad bar in the school's cafeteria.

Since last fall, parents collected 400 signatures demanding a change to the menu. The previous menu included red meat almost every day, which conflicted with the religious observances of many students. Some even went without lunch because of the old menu.

Parents also requested that healthy options be available for all students.

The new menu will begin on Monday. Parents say they hope that school officials will continue introducing healthy options to the cafeteria's selection.