school lunches vs. packed lunches
A few weeks ago, I heard a report on the radio that a community in NJ is upset at the poor nutritional quality of the school lunches in their district. The lunches apparently include many high fat and fried foods. The parents are worried that their kids are eating poorly at school.
Although the issue of the actual meals and use of tax payer money is an interesting issue, I am more interested in the parental reaction and mind set. My first thought was “pack your kid a lunch if you don’t like the menu.” My second thought was “are these kids really eating so much healthier at home?”
A week or so later, I saw a McDonalds commercial promoting the “Big Kids Meal”. This meal includes a double hamburger, with fries and a soda. Are parents buying these meals for their 10 year-old kids? Are any of the parents who are buying them from that community in NJ that’s complaining about french fries in school lunches?
Last weekend, I over heard a father in the supermarket ask his 7-ish-year-old son “do you want chocolate Twinkies or vanilla Twinkies?” This to add to a cart full of fatty snacks and soda. Are these the same type of people complaining about mozzarella sticks in school lunches?
Call me crazy, call me unrealistic, or even call me childless, but it seems to me that healthy eating, like anything else, starts at home. Kids will be kids and probably always choose mozzarella sticks over carrot sticks, but teaching your kids through example about healthy eating and moderation seems like a good idea. And if your feeding your kid double burgers, fries, and Twinkies, don’t blame the school system for his high cholesterol and weight problem.
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2 Responses to “school lunches vs. packed lunches”
very true comment about children eating junk food at home and packed lunches at school. I am Infant School Cook, and also run a “Yum Yum Club” which is a healthy eating club for our top year. We learn about healthy things to eat and try different things, do abit of cooking and exercise. The club is run by myself and the dinner ladies in our own time after we finish work. To be quite honest about things we do try to give the children a choice of Healthy foods , mash and Jacket potatoes are always available and salad plus a choice of fruit or cakes. Some of the childrens packed lunches consist of 3 chocolate bars and packet of crisps!! Parents go and buy a pre packed sandwich which cost more than a meal.
I am just hoping our club will wake some of the parents up and start thinking of their health in the future.
I say most school cooks have the kids interest at heart we do bring new and interesting ideas into the meals. We certainly do our best.
Regarding your piece on school lunches Vs packed lunches I would like to congratulate your successful interpretation of what is necesary when a child should come first. Therefore best wishes …..