Better School Lunches

News reports today announced that lawmakers in our state are considering legislation that will make school lunches healthier, in an effort to combat childhood obesity. One bill would require schools to limit trans fat and saturated fat in school lunches. Another bill would make weekly nutrition classes mandatory for students. Highly controversial BMI screenings by the school nurse are already in effect here.

Over the years, I've seen the school lunches here become somewhat healthier, if only by degrees. Although I am not well-versed in the details (nor can I find anything online as to the vendors providing the food), my observations are that the choices are more varied, the junk food is limited, and better choices are encouraged.

For example, the elementary schools used to offer a hot dog and chips one day a week when my older two attended. Now a hot dog is offered once a month only. Fries are oven-baked. A bowl of fruit is always available, along with cheese cubes, to supplement both school food and packed lunches--this is free. Stir-fries are offered, with rice. We're moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. The cafeteria director sends home a kid-friendly newsletter once a month, with nutrition information and ideas for healthier snacks. A local pizza chain provides pizza a few times a month, however.

Things get better in the middle and high schools. There are wrap stations (with vegetables) every day, along with paninis and soups. DD17 reports that the taco bar is very popular, however, with most kids skipping the veggie additions and just adding cheese and nacho chips to the greasy meat. Hmm.

She brings her lunch most days, feeling that although there are salads and fruits available, the freshness is questionable. And were the apples washed? Well, she's coming from a different perspective than most kids. When you've experienced a time in your life where low-blood counts make unwashed raw fruit dangerous, you look at food differently.

I look forward to the push for healthier school food. A lot of kids (like DS15) can't be bothered bringing a lunch box to school, along with some 30 lbs. of books (I've weighed his backpack) plus sports gear plus an instrument. For them, the convenience of a hot lunch is important. (He's a fan of the wrap station, assuring me he gets chicken with veggies most days. I mostly believe him.)

I remember a piece on 60 Minutes a few years ago that profiled an "alternative" high school for troubled teens who'd been kicked out of their previous schools. This "alternative" school had an arrangement with a local organic farm to provide most of the school food for these kids. The turnaround in behavior was astounding. Switching from highly processed junk food and sodas and fast food to healthy meals effected an amazing change in these kids. Discipline issues were severely curtailed and the kids became much better students. I've tried to find this piece online but haven't been successful. It was very, very interesting.

Check out this website for more information on the push for healthier school foods: http://blog.betterschoolfood.org/. In this era of belt-tightening and school lunch services that are essentially the low-bidders for our children's health, it's important to recognize that short-changing our kids' nutrition will cost us more in the long run.