To the Editor:
When this year's school lunch menu arrived, along with an explanation of the upcoming changes, I was impressed to see schools offering better healthy choices for lunch. Children with an early start at healthy eating habits, along with plenty of exercise, have a much better chance at maintaining a healthy weight as adults. Why then, are my children packing their lunches every day? Although there are healthier foods on the menu, the portions are too small and the prices have increased. This has significantly reduced the number of school lunches being purchased.
The change is a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. In an attempt to reduce obesity in children, strict regulations on types of food and serving sizes have been implemented. Schools in compliance with this program must prove that they are meeting the federal standards in order to receive an additional 6 cents in federal funds per meal. An example of a lunch offered is 8 ounces of yogurt with graham crackers, ¾ cup of celery and carrot sticks, and ½ cup of peaches with milk. How is this enough to sustain a middle school aged child for eight hours? My children and their friends report being hungry and tired after school if they purchase a lunch. For many children from underprivileged families, this is the most substantial meal of the day for them. Although we are on the right track, there need to be some modifications to keep children (and their parents) satisfied.
School lunches fight fat but leave kids hungry
To the Editor: