does MFP work for kids?

Also, note - I did not say they should be counting calories to lose weight. Isn't the point of many of these sites (I listed ones specifically for kids like the sparks one) to improve your fitness as well as eat right? I suspect most kids would be surprised to learn they aren't eating enough and are actually eating too little. To be honest, if I were a parent here, I would not even think to allow my kids to eat school lunches. If you want shock, go ask to be in the cafeteria and see what your kids eat. I know at our school, they consider school lunches a way to make a profit - that tells you a whole lot.

Here's a typical meal: ground weird patty of chicken (byproduct of chicken - not true chicken) on two pieces of plain white bread - no veggie toppings; veggies that are nasty and overcooked like canned broccoli (probably only 10% of the kids actually eat them - only seen one decent variety recently), and maybe a box of milk OR a box of fruit juice. They offer a selection of one fruit (only part that's health) - Apple, Orange (not cut so most don't pick it), Jello cup with about three chopped grapes in it (not all is healthy here), Banana, or maybe a plum. Kids are so disgusted by food choices they go to the outside line and buy one slice of pizza, a huge quantity of french fries and purchase a Gatorade as their main meal of the day. The kids who can't afford it get the nasty lunch.

I don't know about you guys, but, when I grew up the meals were home cooked and not industrially prepared and they didn't give you a choice. They put veggies, meats, fruits - the entire food pyramid was served and they stuff tasted good.

Ironically, they started to serve oven cooked chicken legs which are actually good, but when I considered the quantity of protein and what I was allowed....it was WAY lower than what I should be eating based on what Myfitnesspal told me. That means, most kids, who should eat more, are actually eating lower than what they should eat. Ironic that we may be serving kids less than what their bodies need to function. In some states, they now offer buffets of fresh veggies and fruits but in ours...too expensive.