The Great Lunch Debate - Big Y® World Class Market®

Are Your Kids’ School Lunches Healthy?

Here’s How to Make Sure.
With childhood obesity reaching alarming proportions, parents everywhere are concerned about what their kids are eating. While making sure that your children are eating properly at home can be a challenge, it’s downright easy compared to making sure they’re eating right when they’re not with you. At least you don’t have to worry about school lunches...right? Not necessarily. Think about it: Do you really know what your kids are putting on their lunch trays every day? Do they have healthy choices available to them, or are they lunching on sweet snacks, salty chips and soft drinks?

Positive Changes
The good news is that change is on the horizon. And in some cases, it’s already happening. Three major soft drink companies have voluntarily agreed to remove their soft drinks from school vending machines. The government has recognized the need for some regulation as well, passing the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act. This act will require the USDA to update the nutrition standards for food sold in schools so they conform with current nutrition standards as well as address threats to children’s health and nutrition at school. Congress has gone a step further and passed a school wellness bill requiring that every school participating in the National School Lunch Program sets wellness goals for itself, including nutrition education, general wellness, food served and physical activity. There’s only one problem with this bill: It leaves the implementation solely up to the individual school district and provides no additional funding or enforcement.

Making a Difference
Getting involved is one way to make sure these good intentions are translated into reality. The rewards will be great. Studies have shown that when parents get involved in what’s served at lunch in school, kids are up to 25 percent less likely to be obese. What can you do to help your school’s lunch program? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Form a team. There’s power in numbers, and you’ll have an easier time making your voice heard if you’re part of a group. Visit PTO or parents’ group meetings and discuss your concerns, asking like-minded others to join you. Talk to the school’s nurse and/or gym teacher for support. Try to find a parent who has some expertise in the subject matter, such as a dietitian or pediatrician, to join you; their knowledge will help lend your cause some authority.
Learn something. Study the school meals section of the USDA’s Web site (www.fns.usda.gov/tn) to find out more about school lunch plans and the regulations they have to meet. You’ll also find sample healthy menus from schools around the country. Visit your child’s school to find out firsthand exactly what’s being served there.
Be realistic. Chances are, you won’t get everything you want right away. It’s important to remember that school districts are governed by budget, existing regulations and the type and quality of any government-subsidized food they receive. Change may come slowly, but any step in the right direction is positive.
Stay focused. Keep plugging away at your cause, and stay away from political entanglements and power struggles. Keeping focused on the
goal — healthier kids — will help your child and his or her school win in the end.
Talk to the kids. After all, they’re the ones who will be directly affected by all this. They’re far more likely to actually eat healthily if what’s offered to them is appetizing and interesting. Put together a small “focus group” of 20 to 25 students, and have them answer questions about what they would and wouldn’t like to eat. Find out if their lunch period is too short for them to eat an actual meal. Many districts try to squeeze lunch into a brief 20-minute interval, making the lure of a quick soda-and-chips lunch even stronger — kids feel there’s not enough time to eat a regular meal.
Draft a proposal. Be specific and focus on the positive changes you would like to make. In an organized, detailed outline, start with your research
and what you’ve discovered regarding healthy school lunches. Include a list of foods you’d like to see included and foods you’d like to see taken off the menu. Discuss the presence of vending machines, which are often loaded with junk food and present an easy, tasty lunchtime temptation for just about every kid. And don’t forget about nonfood changes you’d like to
see, too, such as time set aside for physical activity.
Meet with the school district. Ask the superintendent for support. Talk to the school board about your concerns; at least some of them may back you as well.

Getting the Help You Need to Make a Difference
Getting involved and helping your child’s school change their practices regarding school lunches is a difficult challenge. With so many rules and regulations, it can be hard to find a place to start. That is why it is good to find an advocate with the knowledge to help you cut through all the red tape. The Healthy School Lunch Campaign, supported by physicians across the country, encourages schools to offer more healthy, low-fat, cholesterol-free options. The Healthy School Lunch Team works with school districts across the country and organizes meetings and presentations for school boards, PTAs and student groups. If you are interested in having The Healthy School Lunch Team work with your school district, visit www.healthyschoollunches.org.