Comments on: Let the school-meals revolution begin! http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:20:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lisa http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36831 Lisa Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:05:52 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-36831 I am a lunch lady, I do believe in this revolution but we get cut time every year. We don't have enough time to prep as it is. Our department is in debt . I am being realistic that if the kids don't get fries and chicken nuggets for lunch you know they will have it for dinner(Sad but true) Healthy eating habits start at home not school. They could pick the healthy salad we have available everyday but they only know what has started at home , This one meal a day is not making our kids fat it is mostly what they eat out of school in front of the t.v. (I hate when they blame it on school lunches!!!!!!!!! I am a lunch lady, I do believe in this revolution but we get cut time every year. We don’t have enough time to prep as it is. Our department is in debt . I am being realistic that if the kids don’t get fries and chicken nuggets for lunch you know they will have it for dinner(Sad but true) Healthy eating habits start at home not school. They could pick the healthy salad we have available everyday but they only know what has started at home , This one meal a day is not making our kids fat it is mostly what they eat out of school in front of the t.v. (I hate when they blame it on school lunches!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Best of the Web – The Gooseberry Fool: Foodie links for 24 August | Roaming Tales http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30850 Best of the Web – The Gooseberry Fool: Foodie links for 24 August | Roaming Tales Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:45:25 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30850 [...] meals. Marion Nestle welcomes the school meals revolution in the US – again following the UK’s [...] [...] meals. Marion Nestle welcomes the school meals revolution in the US – again following the UK’s [...]

]]> By: Obama Announces Plan For Lunchroom Reform | Food Bubbles http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30648 Obama Announces Plan For Lunchroom Reform | Food Bubbles Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:55:27 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30648 [...] will have plenty of help;  Across the nation, parents and concerned citizens are joining the lunchroom revolution.  Marion Nestle, the nation’s food policy guru, tells us how to get involved: The national [...] [...] will have plenty of help;  Across the nation, parents and concerned citizens are joining the lunchroom revolution.  Marion Nestle, the nation’s food policy guru, tells us how to get involved: The national [...]

]]> By: Gina http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30402 Gina Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:53:54 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30402 Wonderful post, full of brilliant ideas that I believe we'll see in our school systems some day. I've been writing a lot about healthy school lunch options lately and a quick google search for "healthy vending machines" turned up a number of companies providing healthier options for kids. These appear to be better options over the offerings currently in school, especially considering that many schools still need the revenue that come from the current ones. Wonderful post, full of brilliant ideas that I believe we’ll see in our school systems some day. I’ve been writing a lot about healthy school lunch options lately and a quick google search for “healthy vending machines” turned up a number of companies providing healthier options for kids. These appear to be better options over the offerings currently in school, especially considering that many schools still need the revenue that come from the current ones.

]]> By: Dennise O'Grady http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30359 Dennise O'Grady Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:42:26 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30359 Talk about a teachable moment! I used the book Hungry Planet (a recommendation from Andy Bellatti) to teach Spanish to grades 6-8 this year; not only did we look at what people were eating in Spanish-speakinh countries and the effect the US diet is having on Mexico, we then looked at countries around the world; the kids naturally, on their own, would make observations that compared and contrasted a week's worth of food in rural China vrs. a week's worth of food from a family in North Carolina against what their own family's week might look like. It was inquiry-based learning at its finest! Talk about a teachable moment! I used the book Hungry Planet (a recommendation from Andy Bellatti) to teach Spanish to grades 6-8 this year; not only did we look at what people were eating in Spanish-speakinh countries and the effect the US diet is having on Mexico, we then looked at countries around the world; the kids naturally, on their own, would make observations that compared and contrasted a week’s worth of food in rural China vrs. a week’s worth of food from a family in North Carolina against what their own family’s week might look like.

It was inquiry-based learning at its finest!

]]> By: DairyStateMom http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30271 DairyStateMom Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:44:21 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30271 I LOVE the idea of universal meals, as long as they are GOOD meals. I can understand the previous commenter's concern about parents spending less time at the breakfast table with kids, and the ideal of kids walking or biking to school needing to eat first --- but I think the reality is that an awful lot of kids are riding a bus to school starting at an astoundingly early hour and they aren't eating a thing before they get out the door. I LOVE the idea of universal meals, as long as they are GOOD meals. I can understand the previous commenter’s concern about parents spending less time at the breakfast table with kids, and the ideal of kids walking or biking to school needing to eat first — but I think the reality is that an awful lot of kids are riding a bus to school starting at an astoundingly early hour and they aren’t eating a thing before they get out the door.

]]> By: Cathy Richards http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30087 Cathy Richards Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:51:36 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30087 here here for Jamie Oliver's suggestions. And I love Marion's inclusion of a national universal lunch program, but am nervous about making breakfast programs universal. I worry that parents won't be spending enough time with kids at the breakfast table. Family meals are an important time for communication, and leaving just supper for the parents to be responsible for might decrease the regularity of family meals. Plus, if kids are walking or biking to school it would be nice for them to eat first, not later. Definitely have breakfast food available for students, but not a universal sit down breakfast. I have worked on school food issues for years. It is definitely something requiring lots of time, dedication, persuasion. Parents and schools are stretched for time and money and mental energy. here here for Jamie Oliver’s suggestions. And I love Marion’s inclusion of a national universal lunch program, but am nervous about making breakfast programs universal. I worry that parents won’t be spending enough time with kids at the breakfast table. Family meals are an important time for communication, and leaving just supper for the parents to be responsible for might decrease the regularity of family meals. Plus, if kids are walking or biking to school it would be nice for them to eat first, not later. Definitely have breakfast food available for students, but not a universal sit down breakfast.

I have worked on school food issues for years. It is definitely something requiring lots of time, dedication, persuasion. Parents and schools are stretched for time and money and mental energy.

]]> By: Lauri http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-30031 Lauri Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:31:09 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-30031 Unfortunately, the free breakfest at my local schools consists of a Super Donut -- what they call an enormous glazed donut or a box of Sugar Frosted Flakes. The milk is skim, the juice is not 100%. I'd rather see them get whole milk-based yogurt than these sugary meals, but fat is stigmatized and the teachers also eat the donuts. During the summer, some of the schools are open for lunch. Free to any kid no matter where you were from, even illegal immigrants, only the kids could get a tray of typical school lunch fare. Parents could sit and watch. My kids would take a tray, pick at the food and I wasn't allowed to eat their leftovers, nor offer them to another nor take them home. I'm still not sure if I approve of the program. Unfortunately, the free breakfest at my local schools consists of a Super Donut — what they call an enormous glazed donut or a box of Sugar Frosted Flakes. The milk is skim, the juice is not 100%. I’d rather see them get whole milk-based yogurt than these sugary meals, but fat is stigmatized and the teachers also eat the donuts.

During the summer, some of the schools are open for lunch. Free to any kid no matter where you were from, even illegal immigrants, only the kids could get a tray of typical school lunch fare. Parents could sit and watch. My kids would take a tray, pick at the food and I wasn’t allowed to eat their leftovers, nor offer them to another nor take them home.

I’m still not sure if I approve of the program.

]]> By: Sheila http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-29934 Sheila Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:42:29 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-29934 Unfortunately, there is still a wide disparity in commitment to change, and in staff education/training. Our local little school district has just promoted one of our school bus drivers to the position of director of food services. She has no formal training in nutrition or food services, and she is personally an obese, noncompliant diabetic. When I asked how she was going to learn the needed information to make appropriate diet selections, I was told she was being sent to a one week training program. I do not have high expectations for improvement in our school lunches locally. Unfortunately, there is still a wide disparity in commitment to change, and in staff education/training.
Our local little school district has just promoted one of our school bus drivers to the position of director of food services. She has no formal training in nutrition or food services, and she is personally an obese, noncompliant diabetic. When I asked how she was going to learn the needed information to make appropriate diet selections, I was told she was being sent to a one week training program. I do not have high expectations for improvement in our school lunches locally.

]]> By: Dill: Not just for pickles anymore! « Chicago Marathon Val http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-29932 Dill: Not just for pickles anymore! « Chicago Marathon Val Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:12:09 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1503#comment-29932 [...] Here’s a great article about school lunch reform: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/ [...] [...] Here’s a great article about school lunch reform: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/08/let-the-school-meals-revolution-begin/ [...]

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