School lunch just might be worth it

[njmom47]

This is our high school menu for Sept, lunch is $3.25, $2.00 for "extra" portion

Whole Wheat Bread available upon Request


Assorted Milk:
1% Chocolate
1% White
Skim


Offered Daily:
Homemade Cheese, Veggie, or Pepperoni Pizza
Freshly made Deli Sandwiches
Hamburgers Cheeseburgers Chicken Patties
Veggie Burgers
Entrée Salads
Side Salads & Veggies
Baked Starz
Sweet Potato Fries
French Fries
Fresh & Cupped Fruit
Bread Basket and Assorted Milk

Snack Bar

100% Fruit Juice Slushies

Salad Menu:Grilled Chicken, Tuna Salad

Mexican Salad w/Tostitos Scoops
Spicy Chicken Patty on a Bun
Turkey & Bacon Lettuce Wrap
Steak & Cheese Quesadillas on Panini
Italian Pinwheel Salad
Chicken Parmesan on a Kaiser Roll
Philly Cheese Steak with Peppers & Onions
Cottage Cheese & Fruit Salad
Popcorn Chicken Wrap W/Ranchero Sauce
Pasta & Cheese Salad
Oven Baked BBQ Chicken/Biscuit
Grilled Veggie & Mozzarella Panini on Baguette
Turkey BLT Wrap
Steak & Cheese Calzone
Grilled Turkey Reuben on Panini
Crunchy Chicken & Mandarin Orange Wrap
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Pasta & Cheese Salad
Warm Nacho Chips with Beef and/or Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Chicken Nuggets with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, & corn
Ham & Cheese Calzone
Chicken BLT Wrap
Spicy Chicken Patty on a Bun
Chicken Italiano
Pasta & Cheese Salad
Italian Special Panini Sandwich
Meatball Hoagie
Pepperoni & Cheese Stromboli




My son has been bringing but I'll send him with money a few days a week...We also have the "account" but I'm afraid he will eat all his money in one day... (at age 14, 6'1, 178 lbs, football/baseball player, yeah, you guys know what I'm talkin about!! )

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

Interesting discussion on how much meat goes on a sammi

There are some good resources out there regarding how much meat or how much veggies, fruit etc people of all ages need in a day.

www.Mypyramid.gov is one good resource

Here is what the scientific research says about how much meat we need in a day:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/meat_amount_table.html

"How much food from the meat & beans group is needed daily?

The amount of food from the Meat and Beans Group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity.
Most Americans eat enough food from this group, but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods.
Recommended daily amounts are shown in the chart.

Daily recommendation*
Children 2-3 years old 2 ounce equivalents**
4-8 years old 3 – 4 ounce equivalents**

Girls 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Boys 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 6 ounce equivalents**

Women 19-30 years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Men 19-30 years old 6 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 6 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**

*These amounts are appropriate for individuals who get less than 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity, beyond normal daily activities. Those who are more physically active may be able to consume more while staying within calorie needs. Click here for more information about physical activity.
**Click here to see what counts as one ounce equivalent in the Meat and Beans group."

"Equivalents" meaning either ounces of animal meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish)
or 1/4 cup cooked dried beans = 1 ounce meat
or 1/2 ounce nuts = 1 ounce meat
or 1 Tablespoon peanut butter = 1 ounce meat
or 1 egg = one ounce meat
or 1 ounce tofu = 1 ounce meat

The above amounts are daily recommendations.
In the USA we tend to go far and above what we need in the Meat/Bean/Nut food group.

It's a matter of health and a matter of budget as well.


One of the ways to improve the lunch situation in our kids' schools is to ask questions, find out who makes the decisions, and start asking for changes.
Many school systems have School Wellness Committees, which are good places to start.

A good resource is the National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/

We all want the very best for our kids
If we want change then we must take action.

 

[dfchelbay]

So, my middle school DD has been getting chef prepared lunches like seasoned chicken & potatoes or roasted beef with peppers, onions, mushrooms & potatoes all for $2.25 a day and that includes chocolate milk. With the price of deli meat hovering around $6 - $9 per pound I think the school lunch is looking pretty affordable and nutritious. pound of deli meat makes about 4 sandwiches for us so that's $2 just for the meat. Of course, this DD doesn't like pb&j, tuna or hummus.

That's quite a value. We paid $4.00 per day for DS, and that was eight years ago. I shuttered to think what the cost of a lunch is today at his old school.

 

[kinntj]

Our school charges 1.90 for lunch. Today they will eat school lunch because I thought it was good. They are having oven roasted chicken, seasoned green beans, whole wheat dinner roll, and apple sauce. milk is included.

When I make my 6 and 8 year olds a sandwich, I put on 4 slices of meat. That's just how much they like. I do put baked chips in their lunches, because I would like them to look forward to something. The rest is fruit and a veggie I know they will eat.

 

[abmitch01]

I know it's not healthy, I know my DS probably makes the worse food choices possible but I do school lunch most days. The cost seems about even and the convenience with working makes it a no brainer for me. It's one less thing on my plate

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Interesting discussion on how much meat goes on a sammi

There are some good resources out there regarding how much meat or how much veggies, fruit etc people of all ages need in a day.

www.Mypyramid.gov is one good resource

Here is what the scientific research says about how much meat we need in a day:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/meat_amount_table.html

"How much food from the meat & beans group is needed daily?

The amount of food from the Meat and Beans Group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity.
Most Americans eat enough food from this group, but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods.
Recommended daily amounts are shown in the chart.

Daily recommendation*
Children 2-3 years old 2 ounce equivalents**
4-8 years old 3 – 4 ounce equivalents**

Girls 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Boys 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 6 ounce equivalents**

Women 19-30 years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Men 19-30 years old 6 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 6 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**

*These amounts are appropriate for individuals who get less than 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity, beyond normal daily activities. Those who are more physically active may be able to consume more while staying within calorie needs. Click here for more information about physical activity.
**Click here to see what counts as one ounce equivalent in the Meat and Beans group."

"Equivalents" meaning either ounces of animal meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish)
or 1/4 cup cooked dried beans = 1 ounce meat
or 1/2 ounce nuts = 1 ounce meat
or 1 Tablespoon peanut butter = 1 ounce meat
or 1 egg = one ounce meat
or 1 ounce tofu = 1 ounce meat

The above amounts are daily recommendations.
In the USA we tend to go far and above what we need in the Meat/Bean/Nut food group.

It's a matter of health and a matter of budget as well.


One of the ways to improve the lunch situation in our kids' schools is to ask questions, find out who makes the decisions, and start asking for changes.
Many school systems have School Wellness Committees, which are good places to start.

A good resource is the National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/

We all want the very best for our kids
If we want change then we must take action.

Great resource & some people here are giving their kids that amount for 1 sandwich!! The US is an obese society because we do not seem to understand proper portion size. Bigger is better, or my kids are hungry. Kids only eat that much because their stomachs stretch the more you feed them so they need more to feel full. It's a terrible cycle.

 

[princessmom29]

Interesting discussion on how much meat goes on a sammi

There are some good resources out there regarding how much meat or how much veggies, fruit etc people of all ages need in a day.

www.Mypyramid.gov is one good resource

Here is what the scientific research says about how much meat we need in a day:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/meat_amount_table.html

"How much food from the meat & beans group is needed daily?

The amount of food from the Meat and Beans Group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity.
Most Americans eat enough food from this group, but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods.
Recommended daily amounts are shown in the chart.

Daily recommendation*
Children 2-3 years old 2 ounce equivalents**
4-8 years old 3 – 4 ounce equivalents**

Girls 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Boys 9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 6 ounce equivalents**

Women 19-30 years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 5 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ounce equivalents**

Men 19-30 years old 6 ½ ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 6 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ½ ounce equivalents**

*These amounts are appropriate for individuals who get less than 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity, beyond normal daily activities. Those who are more physically active may be able to consume more while staying within calorie needs. Click here for more information about physical activity.
**Click here to see what counts as one ounce equivalent in the Meat and Beans group."

"Equivalents" meaning either ounces of animal meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish)
or 1/4 cup cooked dried beans = 1 ounce meat
or 1/2 ounce nuts = 1 ounce meat
or 1 Tablespoon peanut butter = 1 ounce meat
or 1 egg = one ounce meat
or 1 ounce tofu = 1 ounce meat

The above amounts are daily recommendations.
In the USA we tend to go far and above what we need in the Meat/Bean/Nut food group.

It's a matter of health and a matter of budget as well.


One of the ways to improve the lunch situation in our kids' schools is to ask questions, find out who makes the decisions, and start asking for changes.
Many school systems have School Wellness Committees, which are good places to start.

A good resource is the National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/

We all want the very best for our kids
If we want change then we must take action.

you realize there is apolitical agenda driving that whole food pyramid thing right?? No child need 7-11 servings of grain a day, but the subsidized farms sure need to sell it. Most doctors and nutritionists will tell you as much. We eat way too much grain as a society, and not enough LEAN, and lean is the key, protien, fruits, and veg. A child that is NOT getting tons of processed grains will need more protien. We only do whole grains and limit them in our house. We eat quite a bit more lean meat, fruit, and veg than is recommended here. DD is a healthy weight and always has been, and DH and I are getting there since instituting the changes.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Holy cow! I thought DDs was bad at $3.50. She would rather bring lunch anyway so it's fine but I was a bit taken aback at the prices. And they have no choices, even in high school so it's take it or leave it.




This doesn't make sense though. Twenty sandwiches out of one lb of meat means less than an ounce of meat even if they are sliced as thick as my hand. Weight is weight. A fourth of a lb of thick or thin sliced is still a quarter of a lb. I am confused. It's like that old joke "What is heavier? A pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?"

The are long & wide but not thick. They fill a sandich but don't overfill it as others are doing. I don't use a 1/4 lb ever so there really is no comparison so I don't know wher you're going. No one needs 4 oz of meat on a sandwich. 3/4 of an ounce or so is much more appropriate for a serving size.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I know it is crazy. the wrapped slices of american cheese come 16 to a pound so she is using less cheese than 1 of these per sandwich.

It comes out to .8 ounce of meat!! do you know how little that is?

I do not use wrapped slices of cheese product( it's not real cheese ick). Mine is deli sliced & sliced paper thin. The flavor is actually much better than getting a big nasty hunk.

 

[princessmom29]

The are long & wide but not thick. They fill a sandich but don't overfill it as others are doing. I don't use a 1/4 lb ever so there really is no comparison so I don't know wher you're going. No one needs 4 oz of meat on a sandwich. 3/4 of an ounce or so is much more appropriate for a serving size.

Actually more like 2 oz, more if you are physically active on a regular basis. 3/4 ounce is nowhere near enough protien for a growing child, even if they are getting that much a couple times a day.

 

[allison443]

You get 20 sandwiches out of 1 pound of meat!!!! Those aren't sandwiches that taking 2 slices of bread for lunch.
there's frugal/thrifty and then there is just I don't know what to call it that isn't insulting.

To get 20 slices out of a pound it has to be pretty thinly sliced. You are putting .8 ounces of meat on a sandwich! the Hilshire pack I have in the refridg. calls a serving size 2.4 oz. to get 20 slices out of a pound of cheese you are using less than 1 slice of like the Kraft individually wrapped american slices because there are 16 slices to a pound in those.

I really have a hard time believing that a grown man is filled and satisfied with a sandwich with 1.6ounces of meat and cheese together. I could see my DH if I handed him that. Do you have Teens? that is what they eat while they are waiting to eat!
I don't care if it is Boars Head or generic the Math doesn't lie to get 20 sandwiches out of 16 ounces you are using less than 1 ounce of meat.
This just amazes me.

 

[palavra]

Wow, private school teacher here, and I have a daughter in second grade at this school. Our lunches are $4.00 for regular lunch and $5.00-$6.00 for chicken fingers, fries, burgers, etc. My daughter takes her lunch as do I. Interestingly, most of the other kids do too. In fact, our lunch service has just cancelled our food service contract. We are now looking into local fast food places and one sit down restaurant to "cater" lunches.

 

[ceecee]

At DD's HS NO ONE packs!!! She just started 9th grade and everything is ala carte so it can add up fast. The bad thing is everyday they has pasta and pizza in add't to a regular lunch which is so unhealthy. I love how they can count fries, corn and tots as a veggie and a frozen lemonade or juice box as fruit. Finally they did take out the pop from the machines and now it's water. OR Sobi for $1.75 each.

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

My son gets 2 slices he's 5 and my dh gets 4. 1 lb last a week for the 2 of them. Its usually $5.00/ lb on sale. plus they only like provalone or swiss so thats extra too

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

hmm I've done some research here.

The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for protein are based on body weight and include age-related adjustments for the extra protein needed for growth, said nutritionists at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Healthy 1-to-3-year-old children need 0.55 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day, which means the average 29-pound toddler needs 16 grams of protein each day. The RDAs for older children are 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight for 4-to-6-year-olds; 0.45 grams for 7-to-14-year olds; and 0.4 grams for 15-to-18-year-old boys. The RDA for girls over 15 and boys over 18 is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight, the same as for adults.

So in defense of the super thrifty momma. 1 slice a meat .8 ounces is o.k and healthy for 1 serving in a day. I would bet they get a protein at each meal in addition to this. remember the portions we are use to seeing are grossly over that which we should eat/serve. Their is a reason America is so fat.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

you realize there is apolitical agenda driving that whole food pyramid thing right?? No child need 7-11 servings of grain a day, but the subsidized farms sure need to sell it. Most doctors and nutritionists will tell you as much. We eat way too much grain as a society, and not enough LEAN, and lean is the key, protien, fruits, and veg. A child that is NOT getting tons of processed grains will need more protien. We only do whole grains and limit them in our house. We eat quite a bit more lean meat, fruit, and veg than is recommended here. DD is a healthy weight and always has been, and DH and I are getting there since instituting the changes.

I teach nutrition.
The old pyramid was way too vague, spoke of "servings" without much clarification of whose spoon you use to define a serving.
That's why they changed it in 2006.

Have you ever looked at MyPyramid?
You may need to update yourself on the latest recommendations for the grain group before you buy in to the whole "farm subsidies run the game" theory.

http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_amount_table.html

"How many grain foods are needed daily?

The amount of grains you need to eat depends on your age, sex, and level of physical activity.
Recommended daily amounts are listed in the chart.
Most Americans consume enough grains, but few are whole grains.
At least ½ of all the grains eaten should be whole grains.

Daily recommendation* Daily minimum amount of whole grains**
Children
2-3 years old 3 ounce equivalents** 1 ½ ounce equivalents**
4-8 years old 4 – 5 ounce equivalents** 2 – 2 ½ ounce equivalents**

Girls
9-13 years old 5 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 6 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**

Boys
9-13 years old 6 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**
14-18 years old 7 ounce equivalents** 3 ½ ounce equivalents**

Women
19-30 years old 6 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 6 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 5 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**

Men
19-30 years old 8 ounce equivalents** 4 ounce equivalents**
31-50 years old 7 ounce equivalents** 3 ½ ounce equivalents**
51+ years old 6 ounce equivalents** 3 ounce equivalents**

*These amounts are appropriate for individuals who get less than 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity, beyond normal daily activities.
Those who are more physically active may be able to consume more while staying within calorie needs.
Click here for more information about physical activity.
**Click here to see what counts as an ounce-equivalent of grains.

http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_counts_table.html

"What counts as an ounce equivalent of grains?

In general, 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice, cooked pasta, or cooked cereal can be considered as 1 ounce equivalent from the grains group.

The chart lists specific amounts that count as 1 ounce equivalent of grains towards your daily recommended intake. In some cases the number of ounce-equivalents for common portions are also shown.

Amount that counts as 1 ounce equivalent of grains Common portions and ounce equivalents
Bagels WG*: whole wheat
RG*: plain, egg 1 “mini” bagel 1 large bagel = 4 ounce equivalents

Biscuits
(baking powder/ buttermilk—RG*) 1 small (2” diameter) 1 large (3” diameter) = 2 ounce equivalents

Breads
WG*: 100% Whole wheat
RG*: white, wheat, French, sourdough 1 regular slice
1 small slice French
4 snack-size slices rye bread 2 regular slices = 2 ounce equivalents

Bulgur cracked wheat (WG*) ½ cup cooked

Cornbread (RG*) 1 small piece (2 ½” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼”) 1 medium piece (2 ½” x 2 ½” x 1 ¼”) = 2 ounce equivalents

Crackers WG*: 100% whole wheat, rye 5 whole wheat crackers
2 rye crispbreads

RG*: saltines, snack crackers 7 square or round crackers

English muffins
WG*: whole wheat
RG*: plain, raisin ½ muffin 1 muffin = 2 ounce equivalents

Muffins
WG*: whole wheat
RG*: bran, corn, plain 1 small (2 ½” diameter) 1 large (3 ½” diameter) = 3 ounce equivalents

Oatmeal (WG) ½ cup cooked
1 packet instant
1 ounce dry (regular or quick)

Pancakes
WG*: Whole wheat, buckwheat
RG*: buttermilk, plain 1 pancake (4 ½” diameter)
2 small pancakes (3” diameter) 3 pancakes (4 ½” diameter) = 3 ounce equivalents

Popcorn (WG*) 3 cups, popped 1 microwave bag, popped = 4 ounce equivalents

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereal
WG*: toasted oat, whole wheat flakes
RG*: corn flakes, puffed rice 1 cup flakes or rounds
1 ¼ cup puffed

Rice
WG*: brown, wild
RG*: enriched, white, polished ½ cup cooked
1 ounce dry 1 cup cooked = 2 ounce equivalents

Pasta--spaghetti, macaroni, noodles
WG*: whole wheat
RG*: enriched, durum ½ cup cooked
1 ounce dry 1 cup cooked = 2 ounce equivalents

Tortillas
WG*: whole wheat, whole grain corn
RG*: Flour, corn 1 small flour tortilla (6” diameter)
1 corn tortilla (6” diameter) 1 large tortilla (12” diameter) = 4 ounce equivalents

*WG = whole grains, RG = refined grains. This is shown when products are available both in whole grain and refined grain forms.

 

[crisi]

deli meat is not the greatest but sometimes you just have to have a good roast beef or turkey sammi For the past 6 months or so I have stopped buying deli meat and just bake a roast beef to control all the additives. I need to get a better knife though to slice it thinner.

I splurge on pastrami from time to time - salt, nitrates, fat - the whole nine yards - and certainly more than a "single serving" when I splurge. Love it. With cream cheese and thin sliced onions.......Yeah, sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind. But there is a difference between a 6 oz worth pastrami sandwich twice a year, and a lunch every day.

Then again, given that I have a middle schooler whose best friend said "we can have pizza every day!" - there are plenty of less than ideal when sending your kids to school.

 

[NYCDiane]

My DD is in middle school. The lunches are only $2 and it's completely worth it! And they're not permitted to use their "lunch card" or PIN for snacks; they can use it ONLY to buy breakfast or lunch. If they want snacks, they have to pay cash.

 

[pantherlj]

Or a charter school.

Our local charter schools have catered lunches as there is no actual cafeteria. Lunches are over $5 and are catered by local fast food restaurants.

Dawn

My DD goes to a charter school (in NC). There is no cafeteria (yet, hope to build one with an elementary school approval!!). Lunches are catered in for $3 a day. $3.50 on Friday for pizza as a school fundraiser.

 

[ilovepete]

Wow I am really surprised at how much these vary by location.