Are America's children hungry or obese?

[tvguy]

Our city school district discovered that half the kids eligible for free breakfast and lunch weren't signed up for it. They pushed them to sign up,(since the district actually makes money on the free lunches) but the kids wanted no part of them because it wasn't food they would eat. They wanted pop tarts and soda pop for breakfst, and all the banned foods like Doritos and soda pop for lunch. Given how many kids I see walking to school with a Coke or Pepsi in their hand, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Originally Posted by tvguy

Our city school district discovered that half the kids eligible for free breakfast and lunch weren't signed up for it. They pushed them to sign up,(since the district actually makes money on the free lunches) but the kids wanted no part of them because it wasn't food they would eat. They wanted pop tarts and soda pop for breakfst, and all the banned foods like Doritos and soda pop for lunch. Given how many kids I see walking to school with a Coke or Pepsi in their hand, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Would you rather them have a monster in there hand that killed a middle school kid.

[Poohforyou]

Originally Posted by cornflake

When referring to New York City, I capitalize City, as it's a proper noun (name of a person, place, etc.).

That's true if you're using the entire name but if you're just using the word city it shouldn't be capitalized.

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by Poohforyou

That's true if you're using the entire name but if you're just using the word city it shouldn't be capitalized.

It is clearly the most important city in the entire world, so it should be *obvious* that "City" is a noun meaning NYC.

[phorsenuf]

Originally Posted by luvmy3

Why can't they just not put it on the tray in the first place and just ask the kids if they want the fruit/veggie?
FWIW, I think the law about not being able to recycle foods that have been on other's tray has been around for awhile. My kid's schools was never allowed to do it.

Originally Posted by kacaju

Because it is now the law that we, as lunch ladies are required to put the serving of fruits or veggies on their tray....we are not allowed to ask them if they want it.

Former lunch lady here and what Kacaju said is correct. There are government guidelines that have to be followed. Whether the kids eat it or not there are specific components that must be on a school lunch or they can risk losing their funding.

Originally Posted by tinkerbellandeeyor

Would you rather them have a monster in there hand that killed a middle school kid.

That was an isolated incident and it was determined after she had a pre-existing medical condition that could have attributed to it.

[Poohforyou]

Originally Posted by crashbb

It is clearly the most important city in the entire world, so it should be *obvious* that "City" is a noun meaning NYC.

Meh, I worked in Manhattan for about 6 years. It isn't all that.

One other thing, when speaking of NYC you're referring to all 5 boros - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Typically people use the actual name of the individual boro when speaking of it.

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by tvguy

Our city school district discovered that half the kids eligible for free breakfast and lunch weren't signed up for it. They pushed them to sign up,(since the district actually makes money on the free lunches) but the kids wanted no part of them because it wasn't food they would eat. They wanted pop tarts and soda pop for breakfst, and all the banned foods like Doritos and soda pop for lunch. Given how many kids I see walking to school with a Coke or Pepsi in their hand, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

How? Not doubting you, just not sure how that works (programs here seem quite a bit different than yours).

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Originally Posted by phorsenuf

Former lunch lady here and what Kacaju said is correct. There are government guidelines that have to be followed. Whether the kids eat it or not there are specific components that must be on a school lunch or they can risk losing their funding.



That was an isolated incident and it was determined after she had a pre-existing medical condition that could have attributed to it.

Thank you for information I did not have I have been holding back on the cherry amp because I did not want to die that way so sincere thanks

[phorsenuf]

Originally Posted by tinkerbellandeeyor

Thank you for information I did not have I have been holding back on the cherry amp because I did not want to die that way so sincere thanks

All the same it should be something you drink in moderation.

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Originally Posted by phorsenuf

All the same it should be something you drink in moderation.

I will

[torinsmom]

Originally Posted by crashbb

How? Not doubting you, just not sure how that works (programs here seem quite a bit different than yours).

She may be referring to Title I funds. I know if a certain percentage of students in a school are eligible for free lunch, our school can get Title I funds. Students have to be signed up in order for the school to get the funds.

We have several kids who were getting free lunch who are now bringing home lunches. I let the parents know their child was eating very little. They aren't bringing in junk. It's usually a sandwich, yogurt, fruit and a juice.

The junk they sell at our school for breakfast is ridiculous--breakfast pizza, pancakes with syrup, donuts, etc. Maybe they need to stick to cereal and milk or oatmeal and fruit.

[JoiseyMom]

Originally Posted by tinkerbellandeeyor

Would you rather them have a monster in there hand that killed a middle school kid.

One monster did not kill that kid. That child had an underlying heart condition, and a hot chocolate could have done the same thing.

My DD16 has a monster most mornings as her morning drink, and I have no issues with it.

[JoiseyMom]

My DS11 is always hungry when he comes home from school. He usually has 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast at 8 am. He eats lunch before 11, and gets home at 3:30 and is starving.

He loves fruits and veggies and always grabs an apple or banana, and a bag of carrots, but if he doesn't get a chance to finish it at lunch, they make him throw it out before he leaves the cafeteria . THe carrots he usually shoves in his pocket, he really cant do that with the fruit. He wants to eat them later.

[cornflake]

Originally Posted by Planogirl

This is the article I was particularly referring to: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/...-the-homeless/

It did seem a bit slanted and from what you're saying now inaccurate too. That's a relief.

As for school lunches, how does making them more healthy help anyone if the kids won't eat them?

I saw that one and a couple others using basically the same wording when I saw your post. I went looking for who was reporting that, then backtracked. I can find the thing if you'd like but it was from March and referred to the rule the Dept. of Homeless Services has had about not accepting unpackaged, unlabelled food and why and that they do accept packaged. Does only apply to City shelters.

As to the making the stuff more healthy helping if it's being binned - hopefully kids will be hungry and eat and learn that the things they're not so familiar with are actually good. The alternative - keep giving them terrible stuff because they theoretically like it - isn't any better, imo.

Originally Posted by Poohforyou

That's true if you're using the entire name but if you're just using the word city it shouldn't be capitalized.

Yeah, it should if it's used the way I used it. Same as 'The President boarded the plane,' takes the capital P even though it's not in the 'title name' format.

[mjantz]

I think we probably have more than a few kids who are obese & malnourished. I could go on a long rant but I'll just say that we as a society have stopped valuing food for what it does for our bodies & now we just see it as a fuel source to be acquired as cheaply & quickly as possible.