How healthy is food in WofP DCPS elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Packing a lunch is such a total hassle. My DD was at a charter with organic hot lunch and I was so surprised to see kids with lunchbags. On a field trip I paid attention to what the other kids were bringing in those bags - nothing healthier than what the school provides, and in fact a lot more processed foods. Weird.

We are also at a school with Revolution Foods and my impression is that there are a lot of picky eaters and the parents are caving. I told DS that as long as his school lunch was healthy and tasted good (I've sampled Revolution Foods and it is) he has to eat school lunch. If we ever go to a DCPS school (on either side of the park) I'll pack for him because IMO Chartwells is kind of gross.

I too have sampled a few of the Revolution Food lunches during the school year and have determined that they are nasty. My children are under the same impression. If they ate the reheated food it is on ly because they could stomache just a few of the offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Packing a lunch is such a total hassle. My DD was at a charter with organic hot lunch and I was so surprised to see kids with lunchbags. On a field trip I paid attention to what the other kids were bringing in those bags - nothing healthier than what the school provides, and in fact a lot more processed foods. Weird.

We are also at a school with Revolution Foods and my impression is that there are a lot of picky eaters and the parents are caving. I told DS that as long as his school lunch was healthy and tasted good (I've sampled Revolution Foods and it is) he has to eat school lunch. If we ever go to a DCPS school (on either side of the park) I'll pack for him because IMO Chartwells is kind of gross.

I too have sampled a few of the Revolution Food lunches during the school year and have determined that they are nasty. My children are under the same impression. If they ate the reheated food it is on ly because they could stomache just a few of the offerings.

My child begs for me to send lunch (an assortment of veggies usually). She does not like RF

[Anonymous]

My impression is that anyone who refers to perfectly good (not great, but fine) food as "gross" and "nasty" is a picky eater, and you are passing that attitude on to your kids.

And those who brag about their kids begging them to send "broccoli for dessert" and "an assortment of veggies" is just a pretentious snob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that anyone who refers to perfectly good (not great, but fine) food as "gross" and "nasty" is a picky eater, and you are passing that attitude on to your kids.

And those who brag about their kids begging them to send "broccoli for dessert" and "an assortment of veggies" is just a pretentious snob.

Have you actually seen the DCPS lunches?? I'm the poster who called it "gross cafeteria food".
I agree, the menus sound FANTASTIC. But the reality is quite different. I volunteered in the classroom at our WOTP school at least 20 times last year. It simply does not live up to the promise on the menu.
18 times out of 20 the fruit was an orange. Not what is advertised.
Really, I challenge you to drop in at lunch at school and see what is served.

[Anonymous]

At Janney, the kids are given fresh fruit and veggies. There is a kitchen garden on the school grounds. 99% of the parents are obsessed with healthy food and lifestyle. Your child's lunches will be dug from the ground and meat will be slaughtered by 9:00AM (with the supervision of a rabbi!), washed in the school natural on site spring, and delivered in a free trade bowl to your child by noon. I'm only slightly exaggerating.

[Anonymous]

Nowadays lots of kids get to age 3 or 4 eating mostly broiled or steamed fish/meat and veggies. Mine snacked on broccoli only too. But send them to camp (private, Beauvoir, Lowell, Sidwell, you name it) and your kid is thrown in with the kids of all the $$$ parents who can't be arsed to prep a healthy meal and just have the nanny give their kids Lunchables®. I'm sorry, but the moms that work 60-70 hour weeks are the worst for this and that's where your kid develops a taste for processed food. DCPS parents are by and large the children of public sector workers who have livable hours and time to pack a decent lunch.

[Anonymous]

Just asked my 6-year old about school lunch.He said that sometimes it's good,no chips ever,crispy fries sometimes, and "i"m the only one who does hot lunch all the time"(the only one in class out of 27 kids). "I don't like it all the time".
Wants me to take him off of lunch as we are speaking.
Not going to happen( fakes cry), but I will add an apple and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as requested.He is a growing boy and in school from 9 to 6 pm.

[Anonymous]

Any advice on Revolution Foods. This is a popular vendor. Is the food good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Janney, the kids are given fresh fruit and veggies. There is a kitchen garden on the school grounds. 99% of the parents are obsessed with healthy food and lifestyle. Your child's lunches will be dug from the ground and meat will be slaughtered by 9:00AM (with the supervision of a rabbi!), washed in the school natural on site spring, and delivered in a free trade bowl to your child by noon. I'm only slightly exaggerating.

Have you actually seen the lunches at Janney? I'm the poster who volunteered in the classroom (above). At least 19/20 days the fruit was an orange and the rest of the lunches were nothing like what was described on the menu. This was at Janney. I bet parents have no idea--I certainly didn't and the menus make it sound fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Janney, the kids are given fresh fruit and veggies. There is a kitchen garden on the school grounds. 99% of the parents are obsessed with healthy food and lifestyle. Your child's lunches will be dug from the ground and meat will be slaughtered by 9:00AM (with the supervision of a rabbi!), washed in the school natural on site spring, and delivered in a free trade bowl to your child by noon. I'm only slightly exaggerating.

Have you actually seen the lunches at Janney? I'm the poster who volunteered in the classroom (above). At least 19/20 days the fruit was an orange and the rest of the lunches were nothing like what was described on the menu. This was at Janney. I bet parents have no idea--I certainly didn't and the menus make it sound fantastic.

The beauty of DCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any advice on Revolution Foods. This is a popular vendor. Is the food good?

The food is nasty. Thank goodness we transfer out to a school that cooks their food onsite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Packing a lunch is such a total hassle. My DD was at a charter with organic hot lunch and I was so surprised to see kids with lunchbags. On a field trip I paid attention to what the other kids were bringing in those bags - nothing healthier than what the school provides, and in fact a lot more processed foods. Weird.

We might be at the same school. In any event if you saw one of my children with a "home lunch" (as they call it) it's because they prefer a home lunch. I make salads and other dishes that Revolution doesn't, they like having input in their lunch, and I sometimes write notes. They like opening their personal lunch and it makes them feel special. I really don't see what's weird about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Packing a lunch is such a total hassle. My DD was at a charter with organic hot lunch and I was so surprised to see kids with lunchbags. On a field trip I paid attention to what the other kids were bringing in those bags - nothing healthier than what the school provides, and in fact a lot more processed foods. Weird.

We might be at the same school. In any event if you saw one of my children with a "home lunch" (as they call it) it's because they prefer a home lunch. I make salads and other dishes that Revolution doesn't, they like having input in their lunch, and I sometimes write notes. They like opening their personal lunch and it makes them feel special. I really don't see what's weird about that.

I swear kids are spolied brats these days. Allergies aside, whatever happened to if you don't eat, you'll starve? Not literally, but if we cater to our little kids stubborn eating habits, we are going to continue to raise sissy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just asked my 6-year old about school lunch.He said that sometimes it's good,no chips ever,crispy fries sometimes, and "i"m the only one who does hot lunch all the time"(the only one in class out of 27 kids). "I don't like it all the time".
Wants me to take him off of lunch as we are speaking.
Not going to happen( fakes cry), but I will add an apple and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as requested.He is a growing boy and in school from 9 to 6 pm.

You're allowed PB? Lucky you. I thought it was permanently outlawed everywhere. I even overheard a parent telling another "I wish they'd just ban peanut butter." Seriously, a nanny-stater if ever there was one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any advice on Revolution Foods. This is a popular vendor. Is the food good?

The food is nasty. Thank goodness we transfer out to a school that cooks their food onsite.

It's not "nasty." But it's not wonderful, either. My kid wants me to pack lunch & I have resisted so far. She gets a much more varied menu from Rev Foods than what I'm sending to camp. OTOH, the days Rev Foods has something she doesn't like as a main dish, she doesn't eat much.