Keeping Little Tummies Full: School Lunches & Reduced-Price and Free Meals {On a Soapbox}

Reduced-Price Meals

I received information about reduced price and free breakfasts and lunches from our school district this week. I did a little math based on the information provided and found that if Darling 1 bought breakfast and lunch every day of the school week it would cost us $16.50 per week, $67.20 per month and approximately $604.80 per school year {not taking holidays into account}. A child who qualifies for reduced prices meals receives breakfast for free and pays .40 cents for lunch. This child will pay $2.20 per week, $8.80 per month and approximately $79.20 per school year.

That's a huge difference. Reduced or free breakfasts and lunches can ensure that a student will get enough food during the school day. It can take the financial pressure off of an already strapped budget. It should mean that a student is getting well fed with nutritious foods, not just filling tummies with meals kept under a certain calorie count to comply with regulations. This program should give parents who can't afford to send lunches with their kids the peace of mind that their kids are getting a well-balanced nutritious meal while at school.

School Meal Menu

I took a peak at the menus from the past school year at the school that Darling 1 will soon be attending. I had heard and read good things about our school district's Food and Nutrition Office. I was optimistic. I was sorely disappointed. And now, I have it on my list of things to do to call the director and have a chat about some of the choices.

It's my opinion that schools in general, but most certainly elementary schools, should NOT have chocolate milk or strawberry milk on the menu; they should NEVER offer mini or any other size corn dogs, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks {unless they mean low fat string cheese, but I don't think they do}, French fries, chicken patties or hot dogs to name a few items; and when it comes to breakfast, you can't tell me that a bowl of Lucky Charms {perhaps paired with Strawberry Milk} is better for the students' behavior, learning and stamina than nothing at all.

There are a few menu items that are OK, but I was not blown away by the choices and found very few truly nutritious. My child will not be eating every breakfast and lunch as prepared by the school. We will pick and choose which, if any, lunches he would like to purchase, rather than bring a lunch from home a few days week or a few days a month, depending on the choices. I will instruct him to choose only white milk and hope he listens to me {Chocolate Milk is rare treat and he doesn't even know that Strawberry Milk exists....yet}.

School-Made Lunches

My concern would be if I had no choice rather than to have him eat the free breakfasts and a reduced-price or free lunch every Monday through Friday of the school year, consuming so much junk and empty calories. Yes, there are vegetables and fruit with every option, but fruit is often heavy-laden with sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and most of the veggies and fruits probably come from a can which contains BPA in the lining. Many of the meats are fried or highly processed. I would be greatly concerned my child would gain weight eating these meals.

As I have discussed in the past, some schools actually require all students to eat the lunch provided by the school. These schools don't allow students to bring a lunch with exception to some students with medical/allergy issues. After doing a little research I found that the Chicago area public school that received so much attention about this policy is in a mostly low income area and more than likely most students receive reduced-price or free meals anyway. I don't know what that school's obesity rate is or if it has changed since this rule was implemented. This school claimed to serve highly nutritious, low fat meals, but I could never find an example of or actual menu for this particular school.

The problem is that good, nutritious, healthy foods cost more than...well, crappy, junkie, processed foods full of empty calories. Schools and local, state and federal governments end up paying the cost of much of the meals served in schools, especially if the cost of food is on the rise, as it has been in recent years due to myriad reasons. Schools make a lot of noise about healthy eating and offering nutritious whole grain options, etc.; and hey, the hot dog is a turkey hot dog and the strawberry milk is skim and on a few days there are fresh fruits and vegetables offered, but they simply can't measure up to the lunch made by a mom who is particular about what her child eats.

The Scoop

The schools do their best by counting calories, reducing sodium and fats, adding a fresh veggie salad here or a whole apple or banana there. So, that should be enough, right? Sorry, no dice. I want more than that. In fact, I want whole lot more than that.

But in keeping with this week's theme of starving people and food resources, when it comes down to it there are many, many children who will qualify for reduced-price or free meals from their schools this year. And these meals are better than nothing {for the most part}. If you think your child would qualify for such a program and you are in need of such a program, be sure to contact your school district if you don't receive a form in the mail or have questions about whether you qualify. All such records are kept private and confidential.

However, just because you qualify for a program and can't afford to buy school lunches and have limited funds, does not mean that you have to settle for lousy, non-nutritious meals being served to your children at school. You still have a right to demand fresher, more nutritious, better meals. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

Feeding the Minds of Students: Federally Funded School Lunch Programs & Kids' Nutrition

The Family Food Challenge: Tips for Getting Your Kids to Eat Well & Try New Foods

Making the Grade: A Plea to MN Public Educators

Comments

[Jen]

Our lunch menu is probably similar to yours. Some nutritious things but lots of processed things. But I make Grace eat it whenever there isn't something she hates because she is at least getting some variety. She doesn't eat sandwiches so there are very few things I can send with her for lunch. So when I do pack a lunch, it's the same thing over and over and over. And with her I'm just as concerned about her learning to eat new things as I am about nutrition.

[Anna]

Jen,

I understand your concern with having your daughter learn to eat different foods, etc. I am perhaps overally obsessed with labels and the preservatives, colors, etc. in the foods we eat. Maybe it makes no difference, but maybe it does...
Thanks for reading & commenting!
Anna