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What do you think?

PAPYRUS3
PAPYRUS3 Posts: 13,259 Member
in Debate Club
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These are typical lunches I see on my students consume everyday.

Curious if you are concerned or not at all?
«13

Replies

  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    edited September 2021
    No real nutrition there. It doesn’t surprise me. The average American eats a lot of “junk” food. I would be concerned about the amount of processed food and added sugar.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    To bad you can't make the parents watch "Jamie's School Dinners" (lunch here in the US.)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie's_School_Dinners
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I think it's a reflection of the food culture that these kids are finding at home. My son went to the States to live with my brother and his family for 3 months. The way they eat was completely different from Italy. I cook everyday. They just told him to open the frig and help himself. He wanted fruits and vegetables but was too embarrassed to ask.
  • Onedaywriter
    Onedaywriter Posts: 326 Member
    edited September 2021
    Wow. It surprises me. Basically sugar, fat and white flour in different forms. Where is the “real” food?
    There is none. Not one item providing decent protein (even the yogurt drink has only 5 grams), maybe 1 or 2 grams of fiber (mainly the granola bar) and the volume is crazy. The Cheetos bag is 320 calories! This is not a single serve- more like 3 servings.
    Thanks for sharing this. I guess it is the norm but I didn’t know it was really like this. Wow!
    Yes. It concerns me!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    It sure doesn't look like my lunchbox when I went to grade and middle school and brought my lunch from home. Typical was ONE sandwich made with tuna or egg salad or cold cuts. Then there was a fruit--apple, banana, orange or pear and maybe a cookie. To drink --milk in a thermos. This would have been in the 60's.

    In high school we had a hot lunch program, and it was a well balanced meal.
  • wunderkindking
    wunderkindking Posts: 1,615 Member
    edited September 2021
    Leaving aside ethics of taking and posting these pictures aside for a moment (because if there's not a story here I am unaware of YIKES), my gradschool lunch (in the 80s) was typically a sandwich (at that age mayo/lettuce/kraft sliced cheese on white bread), some carrots (with ranch), an apple or orange, a small bag of chips, some kind of snack cake, and a soda.

    So. Pretty devoid of nutrients, too. And almost no protein.

    My school lunches were typically tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, or pizza - though usually some canned veg or fruit , a roll and a cookie with (chocolate) milk.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    The US government ruled that ketchup is a vegetable. Ridiculous.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited September 2021
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    The US government ruled that ketchup is a vegetable. Ridiculous.

    More detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup_as_a_vegetable

    https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article/21/1/17/116213/Ketchup-as-a-VegetableCondiments-and-the-Politics

    Related, since this is about school lunch, here are the CPS (a low-income school district) lunch and breakfast requirements for school-provided meals: https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/school-meals-and-nutrition/cps-nutrition-guidelines/

    Here's the most recent K-8 menu. IMO, sure it seems to be attempting to appeal to kids, but there are real veg and fruit options, and I think trying to incorporate those into a menu the kids will eat isn't a bad idea. I don't think these menus are as bad as people often try to claim US school lunches are.

    Personally, back in the '70s and '80s I disliked most of the school lunch options so would normally bring some kind of soup (with veg) in a thermos, some fruit, and a small dessert (I was super picky about bread and most sandwich options so didn't like sandwiches). Occasionally I would bring something like leftover turkey or chicken, maybe a bag of chips, some carrots and/or celery, and a small dessert. I think that was basically fine, even now.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    mourvedre wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    The US government ruled that ketchup is a vegetable. Ridiculous.

    Most of the people running our government are vegetables, too. #justsaying

    😝 so true
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    The US government ruled that ketchup is a vegetable. Ridiculous.

    More detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup_as_a_vegetable

    https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article/21/1/17/116213/Ketchup-as-a-VegetableCondiments-and-the-Politics

    Related, since this is about school lunch, here are the CPS (a low-income school district) lunch and breakfast requirements for school-provided meals: https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/school-meals-and-nutrition/cps-nutrition-guidelines/

    Here's the most recent K-8 menu. IMO, sure it seems to be attempting to appeal to kids, but there are real veg and fruit options, and I think trying to incorporate those into a menu the kids will eat isn't a bad idea. I don't think these menus are as bad as people often try to claim US school lunches are.

    Personally, back in the '70s and '80s I disliked most of the school lunch options so would normally bring some kind of soup (with veg) in a thermos, some fruit, and a small dessert (I was super picky about bread and most sandwich options so didn't like sandwiches). Occasionally I would bring something like leftover turkey or chicken, maybe a bag of chips, some carrots and/or celery, and a small dessert. I think that was basically fine, even now.

    Those guidelines don’t look too bad but are they sticking with it? And…..if ketchup is a vegetable, then those guidelines mean nothing.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    westrich20940 wrote: »
    I work at a school and I am going to just chime in with some info here:

    What schools provide have guidelines and restrictions (i.e. they are supposed to be 'nutritional/healthy') but LOTS of school districts are being run on a SHOESTRING budget. That limits what they can provide while TRYING to stick within those guidelines. Also - in many school districts (including mine), MANY students are on the free or reduced lunch programs. This further makes is difficult for schools to provide food to students (including take home food for evenings/weekends) that has high cost.

    There are districts where students are coming from low income families and they buy what they can - which often isn't fresh/whole/nutritious food. They buy what's on sale, cheapest, or what they can use SNAP programs for.

    I will never ever blame any parent for feeding their child. This is a problem that goes far beyond any individual parent and is far more systematic than people realize sometimes.

    If people are interested in trying to help make a difference in the options for children, consider looking for ways to help organizations directly working on this issue:

    Summer Food Service Program or No Kid Hungry.

    This was a MAJOR issue during covid shutdowns last spring because instead of being worried about children going ~8 weeks without at least one meal per day --- we were worried from March - August. =(

    I watched a documentary once where some people investigated the school lunch program in depth. I wish I could remember the name now but I can’t. They found a way to make school lunches healthier and taste better with better quality ingredients for the same budget but the lunch ladies were resistant to change. It made no sense.

    Not all, but many kids offered fresh foods don’t even take them because they want to eat junk food that they are used to eating. It is possible to eat healthy on a low budget but this would require parents to change what they are used to eating and many parents are resistant to change too. I grew up poor and we ate relatively healthy so there is no excuse really.

    My parents often wouldn’t let me eat the school lunch because it wasn’t healthy. I was also limited because a lot of the lunches had pork, and we are Muslim. I distinctly remember pepperoni and sausage pizza being served at least twice a week with no option for cheese even if i did want an occasional pizza lunch.

    I brought turkey or tuna sandwiches, yogurt, soup, leftovers from dinner, carrots, fruits, etc. from home. Parents and schools can do a lot better. In high school, I remember a lot of kids having money to buy real lunch but choosing to spend it on candy, chips, and soda from vending machines. I’m not sure if schools nowadays have these items but I believe they shouldn’t. Given the choice, many kids will choose to eat the unhealthy food. It is sad.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    westrich20940 wrote: »
    I work at a school and I am going to just chime in with some info here:

    What schools provide have guidelines and restrictions (i.e. they are supposed to be 'nutritional/healthy') but LOTS of school districts are being run on a SHOESTRING budget. That limits what they can provide while TRYING to stick within those guidelines. Also - in many school districts (including mine), MANY students are on the free or reduced lunch programs. This further makes is difficult for schools to provide food to students (including take home food for evenings/weekends) that has high cost.

    There are districts where students are coming from low income families and they buy what they can - which often isn't fresh/whole/nutritious food. They buy what's on sale, cheapest, or what they can use SNAP programs for.

    I will never ever blame any parent for feeding their child. This is a problem that goes far beyond any individual parent and is far more systematic than people realize sometimes.

    If people are interested in trying to help make a difference in the options for children, consider looking for ways to help organizations directly working on this issue:

    Summer Food Service Program or No Kid Hungry.

    This was a MAJOR issue during covid shutdowns last spring because instead of being worried about children going ~8 weeks without at least one meal per day --- we were worried from March - August. =(

    I watched a documentary once where some people investigated the school lunch program in depth. I wish I could remember the name now but I can’t. They found a way to make school lunches healthier and taste better with better quality ingredients for the same budget but the lunch ladies were resistant to change. It made no sense.

    Not all, but many kids offered fresh foods don’t even take them because they want to eat junk food that they are used to eating. It is possible to eat healthy on a low budget but this would require parents to change what they are used to eating and many parents are resistant to change too. I grew up poor and we ate relatively healthy so there is no excuse really.

    My parents often wouldn’t let me eat the school lunch because it wasn’t healthy. I was also limited because a lot of the lunches had pork, and we are Muslim. I distinctly remember pepperoni and sausage pizza being served at least twice a week with no option for cheese even if i did want an occasional pizza lunch.

    I brought turkey or tuna sandwiches, yogurt, soup, leftovers from dinner, carrots, fruits, etc. from home. Parents and schools can do a lot better. In high school, I remember a lot of kids having money to buy real lunch but choosing to spend it on candy, chips, and soda from vending machines. I’m not sure if schools nowadays have these items but I believe they shouldn’t. Given the choice, many kids will choose to eat the unhealthy food. It is sad.

    Yes the do, even starting at the elementary-age level! I know my kids used to be able to buy one of those ice cream cups or sugary drinks with their prepaid lunch card in like 3rd grade. Now in middle school, I know my son sometimes buys cookies or rice krispie treats. He is a good eater, but has a sweet tooth. We don't typically buy prepackaged stuff like that, but will make them from scratch. I told him he could bring a healthier or homemade treat from home and add it to his lunch, but hasn't done so yet. He just now told me I need to remind him, which is probably true.

  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    The US government ruled that ketchup is a vegetable. Ridiculous.

    More detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup_as_a_vegetable

    https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article/21/1/17/116213/Ketchup-as-a-VegetableCondiments-and-the-Politics

    Related, since this is about school lunch, here are the CPS (a low-income school district) lunch and breakfast requirements for school-provided meals: https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/school-meals-and-nutrition/cps-nutrition-guidelines/

    Here's the most recent K-8 menu. IMO, sure it seems to be attempting to appeal to kids, but there are real veg and fruit options, and I think trying to incorporate those into a menu the kids will eat isn't a bad idea. I don't think these menus are as bad as people often try to claim US school lunches are.

    Personally, back in the '70s and '80s I disliked most of the school lunch options so would normally bring some kind of soup (with veg) in a thermos, some fruit, and a small dessert (I was super picky about bread and most sandwich options so didn't like sandwiches). Occasionally I would bring something like leftover turkey or chicken, maybe a bag of chips, some carrots and/or celery, and a small dessert. I think that was basically fine, even now.

    Those guidelines don’t look too bad but are they sticking with it? And…..if ketchup is a vegetable, then those guidelines mean nothing.

    Yes, they follow them. And it appears they are not using ketchup as a veg.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    Speakeasy76 wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    westrich20940 wrote: »
    I work at a school and I am going to just chime in with some info here:

    What schools provide have guidelines and restrictions (i.e. they are supposed to be 'nutritional/healthy') but LOTS of school districts are being run on a SHOESTRING budget. That limits what they can provide while TRYING to stick within those guidelines. Also - in many school districts (including mine), MANY students are on the free or reduced lunch programs. This further makes is difficult for schools to provide food to students (including take home food for evenings/weekends) that has high cost.

    There are districts where students are coming from low income families and they buy what they can - which often isn't fresh/whole/nutritious food. They buy what's on sale, cheapest, or what they can use SNAP programs for.

    I will never ever blame any parent for feeding their child. This is a problem that goes far beyond any individual parent and is far more systematic than people realize sometimes.

    If people are interested in trying to help make a difference in the options for children, consider looking for ways to help organizations directly working on this issue:

    Summer Food Service Program or No Kid Hungry.

    This was a MAJOR issue during covid shutdowns last spring because instead of being worried about children going ~8 weeks without at least one meal per day --- we were worried from March - August. =(

    I watched a documentary once where some people investigated the school lunch program in depth. I wish I could remember the name now but I can’t. They found a way to make school lunches healthier and taste better with better quality ingredients for the same budget but the lunch ladies were resistant to change. It made no sense.

    Not all, but many kids offered fresh foods don’t even take them because they want to eat junk food that they are used to eating. It is possible to eat healthy on a low budget but this would require parents to change what they are used to eating and many parents are resistant to change too. I grew up poor and we ate relatively healthy so there is no excuse really.

    My parents often wouldn’t let me eat the school lunch because it wasn’t healthy. I was also limited because a lot of the lunches had pork, and we are Muslim. I distinctly remember pepperoni and sausage pizza being served at least twice a week with no option for cheese even if i did want an occasional pizza lunch.

    I brought turkey or tuna sandwiches, yogurt, soup, leftovers from dinner, carrots, fruits, etc. from home. Parents and schools can do a lot better. In high school, I remember a lot of kids having money to buy real lunch but choosing to spend it on candy, chips, and soda from vending machines. I’m not sure if schools nowadays have these items but I believe they shouldn’t. Given the choice, many kids will choose to eat the unhealthy food. It is sad.

    Yes the do, even starting at the elementary-age level! I know my kids used to be able to buy one of those ice cream cups or sugary drinks with their prepaid lunch card in like 3rd grade. Now in middle school, I know my son sometimes buys cookies or rice krispie treats. He is a good eater, but has a sweet tooth. We don't typically buy prepackaged stuff like that, but will make them from scratch. I told him he could bring a healthier or homemade treat from home and add it to his lunch, but hasn't done so yet. He just now told me I need to remind him, which is probably true.

    Increasingly vending machines or what can be bought from them has been regulated: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/soda-at-school-more-districts-are-just-saying-no

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