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So why can't he bring six bologna sandwiches on Wonderbread?
That is an excellent question, and one I have never seen the rabid "personal responsibility" crowd address. As far as I know there is no federal mandate requiring that young people eat only what is offered in the cafeteria. If a subsidized $2.00 school lunch does not meet the caloric needs of a student, he may (and should) augment it as necessary, either by purchasing a second lunch or by bringing in extra food from home.
Last edited by randomparent; 05-30-2014 at 02:36 PM..
A report by local Washington D.C. news station NBC4 indicates that over 60,000 low-income students in the metro area are skipping lunch, dissatisfied with the food offered to them by their schools.
...
The kids’ failure to eat is costing the schools big money, as they lose $3 in federal subsidies every time a student on free lunch forgoes taking a meal. That’s $180,000 a day, adding up to over $32 million in a school year lasting approximately 180 days. School officials say the lost subsidies are straining their budgets, as they need the money to pay for healthier food options mandated by Congress.
...
...students were rejecting healthier lunches because they did not enjoy the food offered. Another suggested factor was that students avoided eating a free lunch because they would be stigmatized as poor.
Well, the fact that they are not eating is combating obesity. Now malnutrition - that's a different story. I understand not wanting to give the kids total junk food and super sugary drinks - but there has to be a middle ground somewhere.
I also don't like how they tie the subsidies received to how much the students eat - making the administrators and teachers sell & push these lunches to the kids. The kids aren't buying.
Look at this on successive Tuesdays for lunch for this elementary school in June. What second grader will eat this... from a school? The junk food was barely edible.
6/3
Whole Wheat Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Cheese
Local Primavera Carrots and Squash
Fresh Local Apple
Skim or 1% Milk
6/10
Whole Wheat Mac & Cheese
Local Garlic Kale
Herb Roasted Butternut Squash
Fresh Local Apple
Skim or 1% Milk
6/17
Turkey Sloppy Joe on a Whole Wheat Bun
Local Southern Cabbage
Buttered Green Peas
Fresh Local Apple
Skim or 1% Milk
My kids would have eaten most of it; they probably would have had a proble with the Kale and the Southern Cabbage, but perhaps that's a common food in DC, which is a bit southern after all.
The point is, the kids are trashing this food (waste, I guess, is okay) because they don't like it. Also, it's not high enough in carbs for most active teens--just ask those involved in sports, many of whom are back to brown-bagging it. At least they're doing that where the food Nazis aren't searching their lunches looking for contraband such as that dreaded candy bar or peanut butter sandwich.
This is an elementary school menu. Despite what you hear from RW sources, there are higher calorie levels for HS kids.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bored chick
Maybe they should have options. We always had more than one option when I was going to school. We would have chicken or some kind of sandwich or pizza to choose from, then the veggies or fries and fruit. That menu, ugh. The only thing I like is the ziti, the cabbage and maybe the sloppy joe. Squash? Carrots, hell to the nah. Why not have corn on the menu? Everyone loves corn.
Wow! Lucky you! We had no choice, except on Fridays, when we could choose between meat and meat-free, due to the heavy Catholic population in my area. Although not Catholic, I frequently chose the non-meat options b/c I like them.
My kids would have eaten most of it; they probably would have had a proble with the Kale and the Southern Cabbage, but perhaps that's a common food in DC, which is a bit southern after all.
My kids would have eaten most of it; they probably would have had a proble with the Kale and the Southern Cabbage, but perhaps that's a common food in DC, which is a bit southern after all.
Maybe in Georgetown, and K St., and Penn Ave. - not in SE or NE - not in the public schools, especially for the kids that need the free lunch.
I don't know where else you'd get a high-cal lunch for under $4. Even with McDonald's dollar menu, if you want 1000 calories, you'll pay more than that for it. Drinks alone are $1 there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammertime33
Don't forget the fast-good guys (at least in the past). When I was in high school, our school cafeteria sold as a lunch option - every day - taco bell, chick-fil-a, and pizza hut.
I just visited my district's website, and I'm glad to see they are no longer selling these options in the schools.
Did you go to school in Colorado? My older daughter (age 30) had those options, too, in middle school. She knew which fast-food was available on which days. Generally, she made her own lunch. Still does.
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