Concerned about the school lunch options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well...I think the worst thing about the new lunches is that although they are "healthy", they taste disgusting according to my kids and the portion sizes are too small, especially for growing boys.

In past years, my kids wanted to buy lunch at least half of the time. This year, they ask maybe once a month, usually during breakfast for lunch day.

Whatever they have done to those lunches to make them fit the anti-fat kid campaign is a huge fail.

Totally agree. IMO, they are TOO "healthy" and don't have enough options that kids actually like. If you actually have lunch with your child, you will be sickened -- not from the food --- which is PLENTIFUL -- but from the amount that is wasted! OMG. The kids throw at least 50% of the food away, and sometimes more. I wish they would go back to making sloppy joes and chicken with noodles and serving REAL french fries or tater tots instead of some "sweet potato rounds" that no one will eat. And what the heck is jicama???? Seriously? Stick with the normal fruits and veggies. Most kids won't eat but a bite anyway. At least make it something they know.

My kids don't even like the pizza! Seriously. School lunches are NOT the cause of obesity, I'm 100% certain of that. Kids are overweight/obese b/c of the volume of food they eat at home (and yes, a lot of it is chips and sodas). I wish the school would stop trying to make my NON-obese kids "healthy" by serving unappealing food. I'm not afraid of a little salt, fat, food coloring or sugar.

+1 on the waste, but I would not eat that either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former fcps k teacher - I highly suggest you pack a lunch. It takes at least 15 mins to get through the lunch line each day ( with both teachers helping) finally they get to their seat and need to wait to have things opened etc. the kids who pack lunch have plenty of time to eat, while the kids who buy ae rushing to get a few bites. Very stressful and many tears from hungry kindergarteners

So very very very true. This is the main reason we don't buy. We Did it once, and we never heard the end of it!

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. IMO, they are TOO "healthy" and don't have enough options that kids actually like. If you actually have lunch with your child, you will be sickened -- not from the food --- which is PLENTIFUL -- but from the amount that is wasted! OMG. The kids throw at least 50% of the food away, and sometimes more. I wish they would go back to making sloppy joes and chicken with noodles and serving REAL french fries or tater tots instead of some "sweet potato rounds" that no one will eat. And what the heck is jicama???? Seriously? Stick with the normal fruits and veggies. Most kids won't eat but a bite anyway. At least make it something they know.

My kids don't even like the pizza! Seriously. School lunches are NOT the cause of obesity, I'm 100% certain of that. Kids are overweight/obese b/c of the volume of food they eat at home (and yes, a lot of it is chips and sodas). I wish the school would stop trying to make my NON-obese kids "healthy" by serving unappealing food. I'm not afraid of a little salt, fat, food coloring or sugar.

Yet another person agreeing with you. I would much rather they have less 'nutritious' lunches and serve things the kids would actually eat. They don't even serve PBJ every day anymore. At least with PBJ, I knew my kid would eat something. It used to be my kids would buy whenever there was tater tots served. Now, they rarely buy. I pack lunch every day (which gets really, really old) and also send a snack with them (oldest is in 5th). I also periodically send in a Costco size box of granola bars/animal crackers/gold fish for the teachers. Someone is always hungry after lunch.

[Anonymous]

Is Real Food for Kids working with any FCPS schools other than Marshall High School?


http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs153/1109061736445/archive/1113414113989.html

[Anonymous]

Pack the lunch.
Google 100 days of real food and look at the lunch ideas, esp for packing lunch. It saved my life.

[Anonymous]

I pack my kids lunch. On of my kids will only eat school lunch every once in a while. He says it's not tasty and always looks forward to what I packed for him that day.

[Anonymous]

We pack string cheese, PBJ, goldfish, yogurt, cookies, banana -- not all on the same day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Totally agree. IMO, they are TOO "healthy" and don't have enough options that kids actually like. If you actually have lunch with your child, you will be sickened -- not from the food --- which is PLENTIFUL -- but from the amount that is wasted! OMG. The kids throw at least 50% of the food away, and sometimes more. I wish they would go back to making sloppy joes and chicken with noodles and serving REAL french fries or tater tots instead of some "sweet potato rounds" that no one will eat. And what the heck is jicama???? Seriously? Stick with the normal fruits and veggies. Most kids won't eat but a bite anyway. At least make it something they know.

My kids don't even like the pizza! Seriously. School lunches are NOT the cause of obesity, I'm 100% certain of that. Kids are overweight/obese b/c of the volume of food they eat at home (and yes, a lot of it is chips and sodas). I wish the school would stop trying to make my NON-obese kids "healthy" by serving unappealing food. I'm not afraid of a little salt, fat, food coloring or sugar.

Yet another person agreeing with you. I would much rather they have less 'nutritious' lunches and serve things the kids would actually eat. They don't even serve PBJ every day anymore. At least with PBJ, I knew my kid would eat something. It used to be my kids would buy whenever there was tater tots served. Now, they rarely buy. I pack lunch every day (which gets really, really old) and also send a snack with them (oldest is in 5th). I also periodically send in a Costco size box of granola bars/animal crackers/gold fish for the teachers. Someone is always hungry after lunch.

+1000 Let them eat whatever they want and lengthen recess! Problem solved and we all have happy exercised kids that go to bed on time as they are tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Totally agree. IMO, they are TOO "healthy" and don't have enough options that kids actually like. If you actually have lunch with your child, you will be sickened -- not from the food --- which is PLENTIFUL -- but from the amount that is wasted! OMG. The kids throw at least 50% of the food away, and sometimes more. I wish they would go back to making sloppy joes and chicken with noodles and serving REAL french fries or tater tots instead of some "sweet potato rounds" that no one will eat. And what the heck is jicama???? Seriously? Stick with the normal fruits and veggies. Most kids won't eat but a bite anyway. At least make it something they know.

My kids don't even like the pizza! Seriously. School lunches are NOT the cause of obesity, I'm 100% certain of that. Kids are overweight/obese b/c of the volume of food they eat at home (and yes, a lot of it is chips and sodas). I wish the school would stop trying to make my NON-obese kids "healthy" by serving unappealing food. I'm not afraid of a little salt, fat, food coloring or sugar.

Yet another person agreeing with you. I would much rather they have less 'nutritious' lunches and serve things the kids would actually eat. They don't even serve PBJ every day anymore. At least with PBJ, I knew my kid would eat something. It used to be my kids would buy whenever there was tater tots served. Now, they rarely buy. I pack lunch every day (which gets really, really old) and also send a snack with them (oldest is in 5th). I also periodically send in a Costco size box of granola bars/animal crackers/gold fish for the teachers. Someone is always hungry after lunch.

+1000 Let them eat whatever they want and lengthen recess! Problem solved and we all have happy exercised kids that go to bed on time as they are tired.

I hate to disagree, but school lunches are fattening. Sugar and grease.

[Anonymous]

11:09, have you seen the fcps lunches?

Trust me, they are not fattening. First, it is impossible to get fat from something no one will eat. Second, even if the kids do eat them, the portion sizes are so incredibly small that they are not enough to give them the energy they need to get through the day, let alone gain any weight. Third, they aren't fried and they aren't dripping with sugar. The lunches have zero extra seasonings whatsover, and I believe they are just reheated in a plastic bag.

If you had to eat those meals you would gag. Or just go hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former fcps k teacher - I highly suggest you pack a lunch. It takes at least 15 mins to get through the lunch line each day ( with both teachers helping) finally they get to their seat and need to wait to have things opened etc. the kids who pack lunch have plenty of time to eat, while the kids who buy ae rushing to get a few bites. Very stressful and many tears from hungry kindergarteners

It makes me sad that children are rushed around at lunch and recess. Why not allow some extra time at lunch so that everyone can calmly enjoy their meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a former fcps k teacher - I highly suggest you pack a lunch. It takes at least 15 mins to get through the lunch line each day ( with both teachers helping) finally they get to their seat and need to wait to have things opened etc. the kids who pack lunch have plenty of time to eat, while the kids who buy ae rushing to get a few bites. Very stressful and many tears from hungry kindergarteners

It makes me sad that children are rushed around at lunch and recess. Why not allow some extra time at lunch so that everyone can calmly enjoy their meals.

I have been to lunch at K many times, and usually the kids eat their lunch with no problem in the time allotted. The problem with making lunch longer is that when the kids are done eating, then they want to get up and run around or pick each other up or play under the tables. Lunch needs to be just enough time for them to eat and no longer. Then they can run around at recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
As a former fcps k teacher - I highly suggest you pack a lunch. It takes at least 15 mins to get through the lunch line each day ( with both teachers helping) finally they get to their seat and need to wait to have things opened etc. the kids who pack lunch have plenty of time to eat, while the kids who buy ae rushing to get a few bites. Very stressful and many tears from hungry kindergarteners

It makes me sad that children are rushed around at lunch and recess. Why not allow some extra time at lunch so that everyone can calmly enjoy their meals.

I have been to lunch at K many times, and usually the kids eat their lunch with no problem in the time allotted. The problem with making lunch longer is that when the kids are done eating, then they want to get up and run around or pick each other up or play under the tables. Lunch needs to be just enough time for them to eat and no longer. Then they can run around at recess.

The main reason they cannot have longer lunches is because of the number of kids that have to be fed. That's why it starts so early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel its hard to pack a nutritious lunch without being able to heat up your meal. For me, there's not many cold food options that I find overly healthy. I try to balance lunch off with breakfast and dinner. And of course, being active!

Always pack lunch for my 3 DC. 1/2 to 2/3 of kids bring their lunch so they are not outliers. Lots of cold choices. Fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks, milk, ham and cheese sandwich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid qualifies for free lunch (and free breakfast actually). I do not eat lunch to afford to buy her food so we can pack her lunches. She is a tiny, wisp of a child and I don't give her lowfat anything, so don't even let her buy the (lowfat) milk at school. The school lunches are just vile.

I don't know many or any parents who would do what you're doing, and I truly applaud you for your sacrifice for your child. Please make sure you're taking care of yourself too!

+1.