Lunch is an important part of the school day – almost as
important as recess! Many children brown bag their lunches, but many more
depend on the school lunch (and breakfast) for a substantial portion of their
daily nutrition.
In
the past, school lunch programs have depended upon contributions of excess food
from USDA programs – the idea was that farmers would have a ready market for
their wares and that school children would benefit eating farm-fresh products.
Well, we all know how that turned out! For the first time in fifteen years the
USDA has raised the standards of the school lunch program. This will have a
direct impact on the thirty-two million children who participate in the school
meals program every day.
The final standards make the same
kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home,
including offering students both fruits and vegetables every day of the week, substantially
increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods, offering only fat-free or
low-fat milk varieties, and increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of
saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.
For the first time, calories are
limited based on the age of the children. Under the old plan, the regulations
stated a minimum number of calories; faced with increasing obesity we need to
reeducate ourselves about proper portion size. It’s challenging for adults to
regulate intake. It’s unreasonable for beginning readers to scan a nutrition
label to see that a granola bar is actually two portions or for a thirsty
adolescent to know that a bottle of juice drink is four servings.
Parents play an important role in
supporting the school lunch program. Don’t sabotage the healthy meal
initiatives by criticizing the food. If you are not satisfied, contact the
school and offer help. Don’t allow children to have additional sweets or
beverages other than water. Contact the school if your child is truly hungry
after finishing the school breakfast or lunch.
Bon appetit.
No comments:
Post a Comment