School Lunch - Can We Talk About Improving Nutrition for Kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japanese kids who are poor will eat sushi. There's definitely a cultural component. But I personally find its a bit elitist and racist to complain that the stuff poor American kids like isn't good enough for you.

Great, so don't eat school lunch. But don't inflict your shredded beets and soggy cabbage buns on them either. They like what they like.

I’m not sure why you seem to believe that the unhealthy foods that people are complaining about is food that “poor people like.” Chicken nuggets, sugary buns and these processed foods are eaten by people at all income levels. Obviously richer people have access to better food but that is simply because of how unequal our country is and how messed up the food system is. And yes there is definitely a cultural component because some cultures generally eat healthier than others. I’m not sure what you mean by soggy cabbage buns. Wtf is that? We are arguing for food that is healthy and tasty. Also I don’t see why a “poor kid” can’t enjoy shredded beets. Do you believe that “poor kids” as you like calling them can’t enjoy something that tastes good and is healthy? That’s frankly insulting.

This. The real elitism is thinking poor kids are incapable of liking anything other than pizza, sugary cereal, and ranch dressing.

Come to think of it, people are insulting cabbage but like ranch??? Gross.

Also, I was a fairly picky child but loved beets. Beets aren't some weird disgusting food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japanese kids who are poor will eat sushi. There's definitely a cultural component. But I personally find its a bit elitist and racist to complain that the stuff poor American kids like isn't good enough for you.

Great, so don't eat school lunch. But don't inflict your shredded beets and soggy cabbage buns on them either. They like what they like.

I’m not sure why you seem to believe that the unhealthy foods that people are complaining about is food that “poor people like.” Chicken nuggets, sugary buns and these processed foods are eaten by people at all income levels. Obviously richer people have access to better food but that is simply because of how unequal our country is and how messed up the food system is. And yes there is definitely a cultural component because some cultures generally eat healthier than others. I’m not sure what you mean by soggy cabbage buns. Wtf is that? We are arguing for food that is healthy and tasty. Also I don’t see why a “poor kid” can’t enjoy shredded beets. Do you believe that “poor kids” as you like calling them can’t enjoy something that tastes good and is healthy? That’s frankly insulting.

This. The real elitism is thinking poor kids are incapable of liking anything other than pizza, sugary cereal, and ranch dressing.

Come to think of it, people are insulting cabbage but like ranch??? Gross.

Also, I was a fairly picky child but loved beets. Beets aren't some weird disgusting food.

I don't care if it is elitist of not. If they want to eat sugar/fat loaded food, their (and their parent's problem). School should also offer healthier food that other children can choose.

It is like saying: "oh, it is elitist to teach grammar and require reading of classics in schools because a bunch of kids can't even speak English" - not my problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japanese kids who are poor will eat sushi. There's definitely a cultural component. But I personally find its a bit elitist and racist to complain that the stuff poor American kids like isn't good enough for you.

Great, so don't eat school lunch. But don't inflict your shredded beets and soggy cabbage buns on them either. They like what they like.

I’m not sure why you seem to believe that the unhealthy foods that people are complaining about is food that “poor people like.” Chicken nuggets, sugary buns and these processed foods are eaten by people at all income levels. Obviously richer people have access to better food but that is simply because of how unequal our country is and how messed up the food system is. And yes there is definitely a cultural component because some cultures generally eat healthier than others. I’m not sure what you mean by soggy cabbage buns. Wtf is that? We are arguing for food that is healthy and tasty. Also I don’t see why a “poor kid” can’t enjoy shredded beets. Do you believe that “poor kids” as you like calling them can’t enjoy something that tastes good and is healthy? That’s frankly insulting.

This. The real elitism is thinking poor kids are incapable of liking anything other than pizza, sugary cereal, and ranch dressing.

Come to think of it, people are insulting cabbage but like ranch??? Gross.

Also, I was a fairly picky child but loved beets. Beets aren't some weird disgusting food.

I don't care if it is elitist of not. If they want to eat sugar/fat loaded food, their (and their parent's problem). School should also offer healthier food that other children can choose.

It is like saying: "oh, it is elitist to teach grammar and require reading of classics in schools because a bunch of kids can't even speak English" - not my problem.

I get your point. But PP seems to believe that poor people can only enjoy bad quality food and that is frankly disgusting. People of all classes eat poor quality processed food. I am sure lower income families would love access to affordable good quality food. It’s just not the way our system works but we can at least change that with school meals.

I agree with your general sentiment that schools are meant to teach - whether that is grammar, literature or taking care of ourselves by exercising and eating healthy meals. Kids can develop a taste for healthy food so long as the food isn’t bland and tastes good! They just need more exposure. Exposure to healthy food teaches good eating habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japanese kids who are poor will eat sushi. There's definitely a cultural component. But I personally find its a bit elitist and racist to complain that the stuff poor American kids like isn't good enough for you.

Great, so don't eat school lunch. But don't inflict your shredded beets and soggy cabbage buns on them either. They like what they like.

I’m not sure why you seem to believe that the unhealthy foods that people are complaining about is food that “poor people like.” Chicken nuggets, sugary buns and these processed foods are eaten by people at all income levels. Obviously richer people have access to better food but that is simply because of how unequal our country is and how messed up the food system is. And yes there is definitely a cultural component because some cultures generally eat healthier than others. I’m not sure what you mean by soggy cabbage buns. Wtf is that? We are arguing for food that is healthy and tasty. Also I don’t see why a “poor kid” can’t enjoy shredded beets. Do you believe that “poor kids” as you like calling them can’t enjoy something that tastes good and is healthy? That’s frankly insulting.

This. The real elitism is thinking poor kids are incapable of liking anything other than pizza, sugary cereal, and ranch dressing.

Come to think of it, people are insulting cabbage but like ranch??? Gross.

It’s like the people who assume that black kids don’t want to learn so they don’t bother teaching them.

Also, I was a fairly picky child but loved beets. Beets aren't some weird disgusting food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Japanese kids who are poor will eat sushi. There's definitely a cultural component. But I personally find its a bit elitist and racist to complain that the stuff poor American kids like isn't good enough for you.

Great, so don't eat school lunch. But don't inflict your shredded beets and soggy cabbage buns on them either. They like what they like.

I’m not sure why you seem to believe that the unhealthy foods that people are complaining about is food that “poor people like.” Chicken nuggets, sugary buns and these processed foods are eaten by people at all income levels. Obviously richer people have access to better food but that is simply because of how unequal our country is and how messed up the food system is. And yes there is definitely a cultural component because some cultures generally eat healthier than others. I’m not sure what you mean by soggy cabbage buns. Wtf is that? We are arguing for food that is healthy and tasty. Also I don’t see why a “poor kid” can’t enjoy shredded beets. Do you believe that “poor kids” as you like calling them can’t enjoy something that tastes good and is healthy? That’s frankly insulting.

This. The real elitism is thinking poor kids are incapable of liking anything other than pizza, sugary cereal, and ranch dressing.

Come to think of it, people are insulting cabbage but like ranch??? Gross.

Also, I was a fairly picky child but loved beets. Beets aren't some weird disgusting food.

I don't care if it is elitist of not. If they want to eat sugar/fat loaded food, their (and their parent's problem). School should also offer healthier food that other children can choose.

It is like saying: "oh, it is elitist to teach grammar and require reading of classics in schools because a bunch of kids can't even speak English" - not my problem.

Much like it becomes the school's responsibility to offer ESL, it is also the school's responsibility to only offer healthy nutritious meals that puts children on the path of a healthy life. The bar has been set far too low.