WASHINGTON — Congress is taking some whole grains off the school lunch line.

A massive year-end spending bill released Tuesday doesn’t allow schools to opt out of healthier school meal standards championed by first lady Michelle Obama, as House Republicans had sought. But it would ease standards that require more whole grains in school foods.

The bill also would put off rules to lower sodium in meals. Those rules were supposed kick in by 2017.

Some school nutrition directors have lobbied for a break from the standards, which have been phased in since 2012, saying the rules have proven to be costly and restrictive. Some children don’t like the meals, either. House Republicans have said the rules are an overreach.

As the debate escalated this summer, Obama said she would fight “to the bitter end” to make sure children have good nutrition in schools. The White House did not have immediate comment on the language in the spending bill.

Many schools have complained the whole grain standards are a challenge, especially when preparing popular pastas, biscuits and tortillas.

Food service companies don’t have as many options in the whole wheat varieties, and preparation can be more difficult.