Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
start petitioning and start making changes. i believe all schools should also have a large garden where we teach kids about soil, composting, etc. and then use that food in the cafeteria.
start petitioning and start making changes. i believe all schools should also have a large garden where we teach kids about soil, composting, etc. and then use that food in the cafeteria.
have you read about the pink slime that can make up to 15% of ground beef that is sold at grocery stores and schools?
I think I did not read and watch this story because I didn't want to get sick..but I'm going to watch it now..
seriously - why are we feeding our kids this?!
I've recently been paying attention to what elementary school lunch menus look like, and I'm sooooo dissappointed that there's pizza, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and other unhealthy foods on the menu.
Why are parents not up in arms about this? Are there certain parents groups that are objecting to this?
we are currently in the process of picking our next town based on good elementary schools and I look at all menus and have lost hope! I guess these decisions are done at the state level?
I know I can send lunch from home with my child, but I can only hope that my child (currently a toddler) wants to eat my food and not what everyone else around her is eating. She'll want to fit in - like all normal kids. Any tips?
If you are looking to move, you may want to consider moving close to the Unity Charter School in Morris Twp (Morris County) Home They are a k-8 charter school that seem to address your concerns. From their website:
It's not the food that's making kids today fat, it's their own laziness and parents for not pushing them outside to play.
Well, you are at least half-right.
Poor diet and lack of exercise are the two main co-factors leading to obesity in general, and childhood obesity in particular, but those two factors alone are not the total answer to the problem.
According to The Mayo Clinic, the factors involved in childhood obesity are:
Diet. Regularly eating high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, can easily cause your child to gain weight. Loading up on soft drinks, candy and desserts also can cause weight gain. Foods and beverages like these are high in sugar, fat and calories.
Lack of exercise. Children who don't exercise much are more likely to gain weight because they don't burn calories through physical activity. Inactive leisure activities, such as watching television or playing video games, contribute to the problem.
Family history. If your child comes from a family of overweight people, he or she may be more likely to put on excess weight, especially in an environment where high-calorie food is always available, and physical activity isn't encouraged.
Psychological factors. Some children overeat to cope with problems or to deal with emotions, such as stress, or to fight boredom. Their parents may have similar tendencies.
Family factors. If many of the groceries you buy are convenience foods, such as cookies, chips and other high-calorie items, this can contribute to your child's weight gain. If you can control your child's access to high-calorie foods, you may be able to help your child lose weight.
Socioeconomic factors. Children from low-income backgrounds are at greater risk of becoming obese. It takes both time and resources to make healthy eating and exercise a family priority.
I agree, school menus are really not the most nutritious and do vary widely. I will say though, that children are so picky today that many bring lunch from home anyway, so your child is unlikely to feel peer pressure to buy lunch. My daughter actually prefers to take lunch. She does like chicken nuggets so on that day I allow her to buy, but the rest of the week she eats lunch from home. And even if she didn't want to, that's where stepping up and being a parent becomes my responsibility. No, is no. Just like fruit is desert, I don't pack chips or cookies as snacks and she knows not to ask because we don't have that stuff in the house. Granted, when she gets older that's a different story, but for now, she follows the rules.
It's hard, she learned green food is bad while in school, so bad habits can be learned but there's a lot you can control. Don't stress too much. You're not alone.
I guess all districts are very different. I worked in a private school in Jersey City and all these kids had everyday was chicken nuggets, fries, tater tots, fish nuggets, and rarely fruit or vegetables.
NOw I work in the public school in Jersey City and these kids get amazing lunches. Some of the things they get are lentils and rice, bbq chicken, healthy salads, green steamed vegetables, whole fruit, veggie wraps, and always brown rice.
We just packed our son's lunch and that was it, except for special occasions.
Oh, and we've taught him not to concern himself what other kids are eating whether it's healthy, unhealthy or in between.
Different families, different rules, their business, not ours. Case closed.
Case closed...? And if you squeeze your eyes closed reallllly tight, you can almost convince yourself that the other people aren't there. Nice concept and something to strive towards, but the reality of a lunch table makes that pretty challenging. And if there's an exception for "special occassions", doesn't that make the 'bad' food even more desireable?
Not trying to be nasty... it's just that it's not always so simple, especially as they get older.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.