Legitimate complaint about school lunch?

[McKelly]

On several occasions this year (and a few last year), my DD9 has told me when she gets to the hot lunch line, many of the fruits and veggies are gone and she only gets a milk and the main item (pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.). On three occassions, they have run out of the actual hot lunch for the day, for instance, today they had turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans, but they ran out of green beans and mashed potatoes, so they gave her a scoop of turkey and she took a milk and a slice of dessert. The rolls were also gone, but there was some taffy apple salad, but she doesn't care for it.

Would you complain? I mean if mashed potatoes and green beans are on the menu along with rolls, she should be offered them, shouldn't she? Like I said, this has happened before with the main entree and I think it happens often with the fresh veggies, cucumbers, carrots, celery, etc. It doesn't happen ALL of the time, but more than a handful of times, that is for sure. I don't want to be a pain, I know the cooks are only human and they might have guessed wrong and they have a budget and everything, but at the same time, my kid is hungry and I am paying for what I think is on the menu.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[surfgirl]

At our school, the kids have a choice A, B, C, D... they put in their order in the morning. If a child comes in late, they give their order to the person signing them in. When they put their order in, they are given a small laminated piece of paper with that letter and they turn that in when they get to the line. There are still kids who get something other than what they chose, but it is much harder.

I have a table of Daisies (K's) that eat lunch in the cafeteria after K is dismissed - the parents supervise. I've been yelled at by the cafeteria lady b/c one of my girls bought lunch (she does often since she stays other days for extended day) without ordering it. I was told it threw off her count and she would have to re-cook.

ONE girl threw it off... I don't think so. However, they have this process so the problem that you described doesn't occur.

Can your daughter try and be at the front of the line during her time slot ?

 

[Minnie_me]

Our kids pre-order in the morning too, and we don't allow them to change their minds. Sometimes the offenders are TEACHERS who decide to buy a lunch without having ordered it in the a.m. (usually teachers who don't have a classroom, like the special classes, remedial, etc.)!

But you should fire off a POLITE email to the school lunch director and let her know what's going on. Believe me, it pays to be nice instead of nasty in these manners, even though you're fuming.

I did this several years ago for my Kindie class, who was the last lunch. If the menu indicated a cupcake for dessert, they were ALWAYS out by then, and the kids got fruit instead. And they were often out of the main choice, especially if it were popular (like pizza). I wrote a sweet note to the director, and it hasn't happened since.

 

[ENSOCK]

We call the lady who runs our the Lunchroom Nazi! Trust me she does not have an ounce of compassion or a soul.

She explained to me that the way the lunches worked is that they offer the 5 items ie; meat, veggies, bread, milk and dessert. The children have to take 3 of the 5 items per the state rules. They can choose to get all 5 but at least 3 have to go onto their plate.

I wish you luck and yes I would contact the lunchroom.

 

[seashoreCM]

There should be a substantial discount for the incomplete meal.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Yes, I would write the school a letter. That would upset me a great deal to think that my child wasn't getting a good lunch. I agree that being nice about it. Make the letter seem like you are more concerned than angry.

 

[karliebug]

I am a teacher and if parents knew what our kids were eating or not eating in our cafeteria they would be apalled. For instance, one choice every day is a bagel or hot pretzel with yougurt. They also get a milk and a fruit or juice. Many kids take the pretzel and the milk. That is it. Also the veggies are usually canned and very overcooked. Gross. I pack my kids lunches which is sometimes a hassle but at least it is something semi-healthy that I know they will eat.

 

[Atchley]

My DS has an allergy or intolerance to milk. Not to dairy like cheese or ice cream, just straight milk. I called the school about getting him juice to drink. A whole argument insued. The school told me that he had to take milk. It was mandated. I called the state about this. I just wanted DS to have something to drink with lunch. Here is how the conversation went:

I need to allow DS to have juice to drink with his lunch.
He has to have milk.
He can't drink milk. It makes him sick.
He has to have milk.
He can't drink milk.
It is mandated.
My DS has to have something to drink with his lunch.
He has milk.
He can't drink milk!
Blah..Blah..Yadda..Yadda
So what your telling me is that DS has to take the milk, you just aren't going to allow him enough time to drink it!!

That last line is about the length of the lunch period. In our school system the kids get 20 minutes to eat lunch. Sometimes waiting in the lunch line will take 10 minutes. Then they only have 10 minutes to eat. Try putting a bunch of elementary schoolers in a lunch room with that amount of time to eat. They don't eat much. And the lunch attendants SCREAM at them. "If you are talking, your not eating." They want these kids to shovel it in.
Most states require employers to give their employees a 30 minute lunch break after 6 hours, why shouldn't our kids get at least that?

 

[design_mom]

That last line is about the length of the lunch period. In our school system the kids get 20 minutes to eat lunch. Sometimes waiting in the lunch line will take 10 minutes. Then they only have 10 minutes to eat. Try putting a bunch of elementary schoolers in a lunch room with that amount of time to eat. They don't eat much. And the lunch attendants SCREAM at them. "If you are talking, your not eating." They want these kids to shovel it in.
Most states require employers to give their employees a 30 minute lunch break after 6 hours, why shouldn't our kids get at least that?

My kids also get only 20 minutes. And DS's lunch period starts at 10:45am!!! Being so early, he has never complained about running out of a lunch item, but I would be annoyed, too... especially if it happens consistently. I agree that a nicely worded note or conversation is the way to start. If you're not happy with the result you can change your plan of attack accordingly.

 

[daisyduck123]

I honestly, would just pack her lunch.

I have a 4th grader & a freshman...neither has ever bought a school lunch even once.

I'm a teacher & believe me, I rather prefer that they take a packed lunch anyway. The lunch lines in school are long, the kids throw away the veggies that are offered anyway, etc.

 

[stacy6552]

I would investigate. Not complain, just yet. If they are truly running out of food, that is a problem. If she's taking extra turkey because she doesnt want to wait for the forthcomming tray, that's a whole other story.

Look into the situation first. Talk to her teacher. Go have luch with her. Ask questions and see how you feel about the answers.

 

[karajeboo]

Absolutely contact the school! My DD is in 1st grade, eats at 10:45 and also only gets 20 minutes beginning from the time they leave the classroom (and it's a campus setting so it's a looooong walk to the cafeteria!). When she buys her lunch she only gets at most 10 minutes to eat. And to add fuel to my fire, one day about a month ago she was DENIED lunch because her account was out of money. Long story short, I was never notified - they apparently stamped her hand but the stamp washed off between bathroom breaks, recess, etc. So I had a nice long talk with the principal about that one!

 

[Drewsmommybear]

This is a thread that is after my own heart. When my school is not out on a snow day I have to do little kid lunch as my duty. Let me tell you, I have learned A LOT from doing this. First of all, I have to say that my school is not like most. We have a great atmosphere and we only have 140 students. Even with that, lunch is a joke. The cooks are given subpar government food to try to make something edible that most of the kids don't even want. It's disgusting and it's supposed to be healthy but I've seen some of the caloric information and our school's pizza has something like 20g of fat per slice and 1000mg of sodium per slice.

After doing lunch like this for so long, I have decided to pack lunch when my son is in public school.

I also think that there are some secrets that parents need to know. First of all, for the mom with the son that has the lactose intolerance, if you get a note from your doctor, they cannot force your child to take or drink the milk. Secondly, every state has a set amount of time that children get for actually eating. In our state it is 20 minutes. That means that if a child takes 15 minutes to get though the lunch line and only has 15 minutes left to eat their lunch, I need to supply them with 5 more minutes.

Teachers can't really tell you this stuff but I would start asking questions.

 

[DevilDuckie]

On several occasions this year (and a few last year), my DD9 has told me when she gets to the hot lunch line, many of the fruits and veggies are gone and she only gets a milk and the main item (pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.). On three occassions, they have run out of the actual hot lunch for the day, for instance, today they had turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans, but they ran out of green beans and mashed potatoes, so they gave her a scoop of turkey and she took a milk and a slice of dessert. The rolls were also gone, but there was some taffy apple salad, but she doesn't care for it.

Would you complain? I mean if mashed potatoes and green beans are on the menu along with rolls, she should be offered them, shouldn't she? Like I said, this has happened before with the main entree and I think it happens often with the fresh veggies, cucumbers, carrots, celery, etc. It doesn't happen ALL of the time, but more than a handful of times, that is for sure. I don't want to be a pain, I know the cooks are only human and they might have guessed wrong and they have a budget and everything, but at the same time, my kid is hungry and I am paying for what I think is on the menu.

Thoughts? Thanks!

I would try asking questions rather than complaining, but yeah, definitely bring it up. Do some research online and find out what the legal guidelines are in your area for school lunches.

 

[Manda]

YES! This happened to me throughout my high school career. I complained myself to the lunch lady and she went crazy yelling at me telling me that they owe me "nothing" and sent me out of the lunchroom. My Mom called the Principal and the Principal told her I was lying probably to make excuses for my overeating or snacking in the evening. The whole situation still makes me sad when I think about it overly much. Stick it to them!

 

[lntsmom]

your district. There is somebody in charge of making the menus, ordering for everyone, etc. (Unless you are in a dinky district, that is.) You might mention that while it is unfair for your child to be charged for food she isn't being offered you know that it is illegal for them to serve unbalanced meals to the free and reduced lunch kiddos.

That's where you're going to get them- there aren't any federal laws to protect kids who pay, but the kids who get free lunch get the guarantee that they will have a balanced meal. What this means most places is if they run out of something they have to replace it with an item of similar nutrition: beans for peas, for example.

That said, I see it happen a lot. I've also taught in districts where one kid gets a 1/4 cup of salad and the next gets a tablespoon (seriously)!

I'd complain to the director and see where it goes from there. It could be that the site manager isn't any good at her job. It might be that the lunchladies aren't good at making the portions the same. It may be that the kids are allowed to serve themselves and the yummies are snatched up quickly. (And to the poster who wanted to try to make the handful of resorce teachers the villains...grow up and get over it. Your childhood was long ago and whatever ill will you feel they inflicted on you is in the past. Let it go!!!) Whatever the issue...it needs to be addressed!

 

[dgr1973]

I have a different problem with our school. Most days my dd's pack a lunch but usually once a week my oldest dd gets hot lunch if it is something she likes. Well lately they haven't been giving the kids all the items exp..when the lunch calendar says chicken nuggets with corn and pineapple chucks the kids only get the chicken nuggets and corn. I asked the lunch ladies why and they said the kids have to ask for the fruit!! I'm like are you kidding me, if it's on the menu and I'm paying for it then it better be on my kids tray! I work at the school so I see this firsthand and it makes me crazy. I understand they are trying to save money by not wasting food (believe me so much ends up in the garbage) but I still pay for the full lunch and my child isn't getting it. I mean how many kids are really going to ask for the fruit, most are very intimidated by the not so nice lunch ladies.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS has never eaten a school lunch, so I don't really know what happens at our school. I DO know that we used to send money for him to buy milk, but the line was so long if he bought milk he didn't get to eat! So he wouldn't drink anyhting and by the end of the day he had a raging headache from being dehydrated.

Anyway, we have TONS of kids on free lunch, and since that is a gov't program with certain guidelines they HAVE to meet I can't imagine that running out of food groups is permissible. They can't legally serve an "unbalanced" lunch, can they?

I would do some more investigating.

 

[ajk912]

My DS has an allergy or intolerance to milk. Not to dairy like cheese or ice cream, just straight milk. I called the school about getting him juice to drink. A whole argument insued. The school told me that he had to take milk. It was mandated. I called the state about this. I just wanted DS to have something to drink with lunch. Here is how the conversation went:

I need to allow DS to have juice to drink with his lunch.
He has to have milk.
He can't drink milk. It makes him sick.
He has to have milk.
He can't drink milk.
It is mandated.
My DS has to have something to drink with his lunch.
He has milk.
He can't drink milk!
Blah..Blah..Yadda..Yadda
So what your telling me is that DS has to take the milk, you just aren't going to allow him enough time to drink it!!

That last line is about the length of the lunch period. In our school system the kids get 20 minutes to eat lunch. Sometimes waiting in the lunch line will take 10 minutes. Then they only have 10 minutes to eat. Try putting a bunch of elementary schoolers in a lunch room with that amount of time to eat. They don't eat much. And the lunch attendants SCREAM at them. "If you are talking, your not eating." They want these kids to shovel it in.
Most states require employers to give their employees a 30 minute lunch break after 6 hours, why shouldn't our kids get at least that?

Oh, I know, my kids' school is the same way. They want the kids to shovel it in since they only get 20 minutes. At orientation day my daughter's 1st grade teacher discouraged us from allowing our kids to buy hot lunch, since she says half the lunchtime is eaten up waiting in line. There has to be a better fix than "don't let your kids eat hot lunch"? BTW, my kids school does it too- I disagree with the idea of letting the kids pick what goes on their plate. My son says sometimes he just wanted milk and some fruit- well, guess what, we still get charged the full $1.75 to his lunch account. They should AT LEAST have a balanced meal for that $1.75. My kids don't buy lunch anymore. For a balanced meal it's a value, not if you leave it up to 1st and 2nd graders to "pick" a healthy meal- no way.

 

[MiniGirl]

Anyway, we have TONS of kids on free lunch, and since that is a gov't program with certain guidelines they HAVE to meet I can't imagine that running out of food groups is permissible. They can't legally serve an "unbalanced" lunch, can they?

Our cafeteria is terrible. It is my only experience, so I can't speak for others. However, I guess they consider a "balanced" lunch to be a slice of pizza and a big roll to eat with it because I often see trays with this on it. Lots and lots of carbs and very few veggies and a few more fruits. The veggies I usually see are fries or baked pot. Plenty of desserts, too. I often see kiddos with 2 on their tray.

My girls do buy lunch in the cafeteria for several reasons. They enjoy the process of going through the line, etc. They also aren't big sandwich eaters and like having a hot lunch. I have just started making sure that first snack after they get home is a healthy one. Then if they are still hungry, they can have more of a treat-type snack.