School Lunches

[mhsjax]

Originally Posted by sunshine1178

The ideal thing would be to sign each kid up for WeightWatchers and find out how many PoinsPlus they need a day. Then we install tracking software on each child that tells how many points he's consumed, how many activity points he's earned, and how many points he needs to eat for the rest of the day.

I assume you are kidding? If you are, that is funny.

[Coconut36]

The portion sizes though are likely more in line with that should be consumed. Portion sizes for adults and kids alike are well known for being far far greater than should be consumed at a given meal and most of these kids bodies are trained to expect an excessive amount of food and calories per meal. It doesn't mean it is needed for growth. Again there are exceptions but even the children who do not eat outside of school are getting a reasonable number of calories for their age/growth needs. Just because food at home is limited doesn't mean they should consume 1000 calorie meals 2x a day either (nor should everyone be fed with the idea they don't eat at home in mind).

In reviewing the standards it appears that the calories per meal does change depending on grade level/age (as it should..a 6 year old does not need the calories a 16 year old needs). So no the high school student isn't getting the same 2 chicken nuggets the 2nd grader might be getting (or the high school student has different/additional foods to account for the 200-300 additional calories)

Lunch:
550-650 (grades K-5)
600-700 (grades 6-8)
750-850 (grades 9-12)

[fae]

I'm an adult female and to maintain my weight, I need to eat about 1400-1500 calories a day. I could never imagine eating an 800 calorie lunch. That would be more than half of my daily caloric needs.

[Colleen27]

Originally Posted by HM

Given what I saw when I ate lunch at my children's school years ago, the problem likely is them not eating everything on their plate. I watched all the kids sitting around me pick at their food and eat only one or two elements of their lunches. Usually the veggies got passed over.

Exactly. I'm hearing friends complain about their kids being hungry, but those are the same parents I've heard complain time and again about how their kids don't like any veggies other than maybe canned corn or raw carrots with ranch. Of course they're hungry, because they're eating the entree and throwing out all the rest.

I volunteer in the lunch room at my girls' school once a week. Today, I watched a young man, 7th grade I think, pick each and every shred of lettuce and tomato off of his taco, eat the meat & cheese with a fork, and throw out the whole wheat tortilla along with his black beans & rice and the carrot sticks that were his only selection (they have to choose one, but can have up to four) from the fruit & veggie bar. I'm sure he'll be starving by the end of the day. But from that same lunch program, my 5'8", 177# 8th grade football player has no problem getting full - because he eats the whole taco, the beans & rice and all four of his fruit & veggie selections.

So what is the solution? Do we decide having full bellies is worth serving junk/kid food without regard to calories or nutrition? Or do we keep offering healthy meals and trust that kids will eventually try some of these "weird" (different) items rather than go hungry?

Personally, I think it is far too soon to make any judgments as to success or failure of the new standards - the program isn't even a month old in much of the country, and at most two months old in the earliest starting regions. Kids generally need to be exposed to new foods multiple times before they accept them. If this is still a problem in May, then it is time to rethink how to go about changing youth diets.

[diznygirl]

The sad part is that most people aren't listening to the complaints because they assume all that kids will eat is junk. They will eat good food - if it tastes good. What is so hard to understand about that?

[Coconut36]

Originally Posted by Colleen27

Exactly. I'm hearing friends complain about their kids being hungry, but those are the same parents I've heard complain time and again about how their kids don't like any veggies other than maybe canned corn or raw carrots with ranch. Of course they're hungry, because they're eating the entree and throwing out all the rest.

I volunteer in the lunch room at my girls' school once a week. Today, I watched a young man, 7th grade I think, pick each and every shred of lettuce and tomato off of his taco, eat the meat & cheese with a fork, and throw out the whole wheat tortilla along with his black beans & rice and the carrot sticks that were his only selection (they have to choose one, but can have up to four) from the fruit & veggie bar. I'm sure he'll be starving by the end of the day. But from that same lunch program, my 5'8", 177# 8th grade football player has no problem getting full - because he eats the whole taco, the beans & rice and all four of his fruit & veggie selections.

So what is the solution? Do we decide having full bellies is worth serving junk/kid food without regard to calories or nutrition? Or do we keep offering healthy meals and trust that kids will eventually try some of these "weird" (different) items rather than go hungry?

Personally, I think it is far too soon to make any judgments as to success or failure of the new standards - the program isn't even a month old in much of the country, and at most two months old in the earliest starting regions. Kids generally need to be exposed to new foods multiple times before they accept them. If this is still a problem in May, then it is time to rethink how to go about changing youth diets.

I agree..especially in regards to them being hungry not because it isn't "enough" (because the reality is that it is plenty) but because they eat 1-2 items and toss the rest.

I personally can't get behind the mentality that since junk is all they want/know we should give them junk for the sake of a fully belly. Repeated exposure is key to kids trying and eating new foods and I also agree it is way too early to call things a failure (I also imagine it doesn't help when they go home and Mom and Dad pat them on the back and say "your right..how dare they give you carrots and whole grain tortillas..that's gross" and just enable their complaints and lack of willingness to try.

[Aneille]

My big complaint is that next year my children can not purchase a chocolate milk because it is no longer on the al a carte menu. If they buy lunch, they can have a chocolate milk.

My oldest can't purchase lunch because she has a celiac disease.

My petty complaint of the day.

I don't know exactly how much my kids eat when at school, but I do know I feed them a huge second lunch when they get home.

[Coconut36]

Originally Posted by diznygirl

The sad part is that most people aren't listening to the complaints because they assume all that kids will eat is junk. They will eat good food - if it tastes good. What is so hard to understand about that?

Why do you assume it doesn't taste good? SOME posters have indicated food was poorly prepared but if the cafeteria can't prepare whole wheat then they can't prepare the white any better. If they make brown rice mush then they wouldn't be able to make white any better. If the food is crap the food was crap before they changed the nutritional standards. Nothing in the standards states that foods can't be flavorful (although they are required to keep sodium content within a certain level). The standards simply state things like 1 cup of veggies (but doesn't limit what veggies) and 1 cup of fruit per meal or the serving size protein should be, limits on sugars and trans fats.

If a school is preparing poorly tasting food the issue is the school/vendor not the new standards (and I can't believe it is only a problem now..what I believe is that they can't keep pumping out nuggets and pizza and thus their inadequacies in their cooking ability is becoming apparent now).

[mjkacmom]

Originally Posted by mhsjax

If I am reading correctly, your DS is 2. You wait until he is a teen. Well one serving for my DS is half a chicken. And fruit, multiple servings, not doing them any favors, it is still sugar. I read an interesting article a while back, it said people believe fruit is so good for you because it is natural, and while it is good for you, people think that they can eat as much as they want. This article also mentioned that back in the old days fruit wasn't as readily available and you had to eat what was in season, limiting the amount you ate. It said that these days people are in fact over doing the fruit.

Everyone warned me, and boy is it true - teenaged boys can eat! Ds14 easily eats two sandwiches in a sitting. He is about 5'9", 130 pounds, and not done growing. He plays HS sports, so doesn't get home from school until after 6. I have his dinner hot and waiting for him (all the kids have daily activities, so we eat at different times).

Granted, I can't even imagine eating over 800 calories for lunch, but teens need way more calories than a middle aged woman:


Calorie needs jump for both males and females ages 14 to 18 years, when growth spurts occur. Males in this age group, approximately 68 inches tall and 134 lbs., require 3,152 calories daily. These are general guidelines. To be more specific, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture My Pyramid Plan, a 15-year-old male, 68 inches tall and 134 lbs. who participates in moderate physical activity 30 to 60 minutes every day needs about 2,800 calories daily for optimum health

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/13...#ixzz27bEKrCbz

[Coconut36]

Originally Posted by Aneille

My big complaint is that next year my children can not purchase a chocolate milk because it is no longer on the al a carte menu. If they buy lunch, they can have a chocolate milk.

My oldest can't purchase lunch because she has a celiac disease.

My petty complaint of the day.

I don't know exactly how much my kids eat when at school, but I do know I feed them a huge second lunch when they get home.

So you feed them a 2nd lunch and then proceed to feed them dinner a few hours later? I can't see why a "huge 2nd lunch" could possibly be needed when dinner would likely be served within a few hours of returning home (here kids get out at 3:30..we eat dinner by 5:30-6pm at the latest). Maybe I am misunderstanding your school start/lunch/stop and dinner times?

[Aneille]

Oh and my big complaint....

Changing the food isn't the only answer. They need to educate the kids on healthy food choices. Telling them a few times isn't good enough either. They need to put into practice with food logs etc and help them understand good food choices.

But that will not happen in most schools as it will take away valuable time away from reading, math etc..

So I don't see this as really helping anything. Its a band aid.

[mjkacmom]

Originally Posted by Aneille

My big complaint is that next year my children can not purchase a chocolate milk because it is no longer on the al a carte menu. If they buy lunch, they can have a chocolate milk.

My oldest can't purchase lunch because she has a celiac disease.

My petty complaint of the day.

I don't know exactly how much my kids eat when at school, but I do know I feed them a huge second lunch when they get home.

I have this same vent - no meal, no milk. I have one with celiac, so of course she never buys. It would be nice to send her in with some gf cereal, and have her be able to at least buy milk. There is no milk for sale in the elementary school.

[Poohforyou]

Originally Posted by ccgirl

In my house we give one serving of things with the exception of fruits and vegetables. Those are unlimited. I tell them if they are hungry enough, eat fruit or drink water. Otherwise, I don't want to hear it. Suck it up buttercup! The other night my son had a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread, a handful of pretzels, 3 pieces of watermelon and about 25 grapes. I know not all parents are that way. I watch my SiL cry how my niece is so obese yet offers her nothing nutritional or does not limit her intake because" she is hungry and will only eat certain things". 3 bowls of pasta, and 2 hostess cupcakes does not a nutritional dinner make. Granted, I started the healthy eating early so it comes as second nature. My DD is more challenging as she is not a big fan of fruits and vegetables. I still don't cave into her though. I had the talk about how she has to keep the right fuel in her body to keep it going.

However, even saying that, I agree the portion on that tray is more geared for elementary students. I cannot see that as a proper portion for high school students and probably not even middle school students. I would think 4 - 6 nuggets would be more appropriate.

Wait until your kids are teens. You'll have mutiny on your hands if you limit their food. My dd is 13 and a string bean but she can out eat me and sometimes even dh. I agree with limiting junk but when she's hungry she's free to eat almost anything. I believe in teaching kids to read their own cues when it comes to what their bodies need. Controlling doesn't work in the long run Imo.

[ccgirl]

Originally Posted by Aneille

My big complaint is that next year my children can not purchase a chocolate milk because it is no longer on the al a carte menu. If they buy lunch, they can have a chocolate milk.

My oldest can't purchase lunch because she has a celiac disease.

My petty complaint of the day.

I don't know exactly how much my kids eat when at school, but I do know I feed them a huge second lunch when they get home.

If they don't like the lunch the school isn't serving; why don't you send in a lunch? Genuinely curious.

Originally Posted by mjkacmom

I have this same vent - no meal, no milk. I have one with celiac, so of course she never buys. It would be nice to send her in with some gf cereal, and have her be able to at least buy milk. There is no milk for sale in the elementary school.

Can you send her in with milk? I find it's less expensive to buy DD the little milk cartons that have her buy it in school.

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Originally Posted by fae

I'm an adult female and to maintain my weight, I need to eat about 1400-1500 calories a day. I could never imagine eating an 800 calorie lunch. That would be more than half of my daily caloric needs.

Yes, but you aren't still growing. A child will burn more calories.



Personally, I would love for schools to be less strict about eating in class. When I was in junior high and high school, the teachers didn't care if you brought in a drink or a snack to class. I mean, you couldn't bring in an entire Big Mac meal from McDonalds, but they had no problem with a kid drinking a Dr Pepper, a bottle of orange juice, or some water during class. They also didn't care if the kid was munching on apple slices, carrot sticks, or even potato chips. I'm not saying that kids should be eating junk food while in school, and I'm not saying that they need to take enough food to graze all day like cattle, but I can see the benefits of a kid having an apple and a bottle of water in their backpack so that if they get hungry during 6th period, they have something to munch on.