Google Ads

Fun Stuff to Do

Check Out Free Movies!

Did you know you can check out a lot of the latest DVD's from the library for free? You can!  There might be a waiting list, but you can request a bunch of different titles and be notified when they are being held for you. Check it out! Local Library locations

School Cafeterias Make Changes

New Posts    Active Topics    7 replies [Last post]
Imagine That
Offline
Joined: Sep 20, 2010
Posts: 53
Points: 0
School Cafeterias Make Changes

School cafeterias are making changes to encourage children to make better choices. When fruit was routinely placed on every tray by cafeteria workers, a lot of fruit was tossed away by the kids. Now, school cafeterias are trying to make the fruit more appealing; so, children will choose to place it on their trays. Food chosen by the children is more likely to be eaten.

What's happening in your child's school cafeteria? Does your child take a lunch to school or eat from the school cafeteria menu? What is a typical lunch for your child on a school day?

Columbia4Kids
Columbia4Kids's picture
Offline

Location

Irmo, SC 29063
Joined: Jun 19, 2010
Posts: 78
Points: 0
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

I still find the amount of money the government spends on these things to be shocking:

 

Quote:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced what it called a major new initiative Tuesday, giving $2 million to food behavior scientists to find ways to use psychology to improve kids' use of the federal school lunch program and fight childhood obesity.

 

It's an excellent goal, but $2 million to figure out that they need to make healthy choices more attractive?  Wow.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

~Dr Seuss

hassie
hassie's picture
Offline

Location

Augusta, GA
Joined: Dec 26, 2009
Posts: 6
Points: 0
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

I'm still amazed at the fat percentages in the daily lunch menu.  They have to print the nutrition info on the monthly menu charts and it is still really high in calories and fat.  I hope they do something about the offerings here soon.

 

They actually sponsor "The Biggest Loser" contests in the grade schools to try and get some of the heavier students on a diet/exercise program, but I think they need to start with the lunch menu!

GingeR
GingeR's picture
Offline

Location

Sandhill, SC
Joined: Jan 25, 2010
Posts: 15
Points: 0
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

I am NOT a fan of "The Biggest Loser" contests in elementary schools.  I think they should focus on exercise and nutrition for ALL students and not single some of them out because of their weight.  I understand the idea behind the program but I think it only makes it worse on those kids who are already having weight issues.

fundeb
fundeb's picture
Offline

Location

Atlanta, GA 30084
Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 33
Points: -1
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

I can't say I'm seeing healthy changes in our school menus yet.  And it's not really about what they serve, I think it's more about how things are prepared.  The fat and calories in an average school lunch are still really high, unless your kid likes salad.

Keeping up with my little monster is fun.

utkvolmom
utkvolmom's picture
Offline

Location

TN
Joined: Oct 6, 2009
Posts: 86
Points: 17
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

Schools feed kids what they will eat, not what they should eat. When parents feed kids chicken nuggets and french fries at home, that is what the kids want at school. Schools can't afford to spend money on food thrown away.  School food reflects what kids will eat.

As we know, healthier food is costlier food.

In our town, there is a pilot program to do away with flavored milk. Added sugar of course. However, the nutrients in milk far outweigh the sugar to me. And don't use whole milk, cut fat by using the 1 or 2 percent. Kids won't even taste the difference. Watch the balance of the meal served, as well. I've seen too  many carbs on those trays.

Imagine That
Offline
Joined: Sep 20, 2010
Posts: 53
Points: 0
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

You know what? On the various food shows, they always talk about the importance of presentation. If the food doesn't look appealing, no one will want to eat it. Kids love lots of color and anything that sparks their imaginations. Maybe the school cafeterias need to spend a bit more time on creativity. I'll bet, if once a month, a  themed lunch was presented to the kids, more food would be eaten and less food would wind up in the garbage can.

Columbia4Kids
Columbia4Kids's picture
Offline

Location

Irmo, SC 29063
Joined: Jun 19, 2010
Posts: 78
Points: 0
Re: School Cafeterias Make Changes

I am amazed at what my kids eat at school.  At home, they wouldn't touch a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich with a 10-ft pole. But for some reason, they'll eat them happily at school!

 

For me, they won't eat hamburgers.  But they eat them at school!

 

I think the school lunch program can do a lot towards shaping what kids will eat.  Kids are more likely to at least try stuff that all the other kids are eating.  I think taking steps to help them choose the right foods (and making them available, both in healthier choices and healthier preparation methods) is really one of the keys to fighting not only childhood obesity but also lifetime weight issues.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

~Dr Seuss

X
Loading