Bring in Jamie Oliver. We here in one of the most affluent counties in the country need his services. (That is a very, very sad statement.)

Anonymous wrote:This is actually a fairly simple issue to address -- everyone knows what healthy food is. But parents need to push hard for it, vote based on this issue, and be willing to vote in something like a small sales tax increase devoted to healthy school food.

The poor quality of school food is 100% due to lack of financing and parental apathy.
I also find that middle school is not conducive to taking lunch. Not only is it viewed as dorky by many of the other kids, but it's logistically difficult -- kids can't carry their backpacks around during the day and there may not be time to go back to the locker before lunch.

At my DS' middle school there ARE healthful options but as long as they have steak and cheese subs, french fries, and strawberry milk kids will choose those things pretty often. My kid will only drink plain milk and I actually had to call the cafeteria to make sure it was available -- frequently he would get to the front of the line only to find that only flavored milk was available.

This.

This is actually a fairly simple issue to address -- everyone knows what healthy food is. But parents need to push hard for it, vote based on this issue, and be willing to vote in something like a small sales tax increase devoted to healthy school food.

The poor quality of school food is 100% due to lack of financing and parental apathy.

I also find that middle school is not conducive to taking lunch. Not only is it viewed as dorky by many of the other kids, but it's logistically difficult -- kids can't carry their backpacks around during the day and there may not be time to go back to the locker before lunch.

At my DS' middle school there ARE healthful options but as long as they have steak and cheese subs, french fries, and strawberry milk kids will choose those things pretty often. My kid will only drink plain milk and I actually had to call the cafeteria to make sure it was available -- frequently he would get to the front of the line only to find that only flavored milk was available.

And I just read an article about the price of school lunches will be going up soon. The food is 90% crap and I don't let my son buy it. I do feel sorry for the kids who are on free and reduced priced lunches. Garbage in, garbage out. At our school, the overweight kids are the ones who get free lunches and I feel bad for them. No, they aren't starving but the junk they eat twice a day every school day certainly isn't doing their bodies any good.

I guess it is food for the poors, to ready them for a life of manual labor and diabeetus. All the people who care about their kids diet provide them with packed lunches, so the food is only served to the people who don't care or don't know better. It is pretty cynical when you think about it. I wonder how those who vote on the school food budget, and those who decide on the menus live with themselves.

OK, the food is processed -- mostly because it's cheaper and also MCPS schools do not have kitchens, so they have to serve things that are made in a central kitchen and reheated. Yes, it's gross, and there are too many high calorie options and ways to avoid fruits and vegetables.

I think that implying that the food is full of TOXIC CHEMICALS is a bit much.

Completely agree that the lunch food looks disgusting and the kids don't really eat it, either. I volunteer in our lunch room regularly and my kids have never bought the school lunch. And they won't. We pack it every day and make sure they have fresh fruit, protein and yes, a dessert or snack that is a treat. But it's not filled with toxic chemicals.

DS is in 10th grade. He has taken a packed lunch every day of his MCPS career. I used to volunteer in the elementary school. I would check out the lunch scene and it was disgusting. Middle school is slightly less disgusting. Have no idea about HS. Apparently, the lines are so long that if your kid opts to buy lunch they may never actually make through the line in time for the next class. Thank god my DS makes his own sandwich and packs his lunch. He has had other kids offer to buy his sandwich off him.. I told him this would be a great way to make some money. Offer an alternative to the lunch line. He would make a fortune. Alas, he is too lazy to do this.

I looked at the nutritonal data on the MCPS website..and have packed my kids lunches ever since!

I agree with the others - it is a disgrace.

Given the vast bureaucracy that is MCPS however, I would plan to pack lunches. That's what we do.

Marla Capon
Director, Division of Food and Nutrition Services
MCPS
16644 Crabbs Branch Way
Rockville MD 20855

Copy to Joshua Starr, Superintendent
plus whatever media -- maybe WaPo Metro or Food sections?

The district is light years ahead of MCPS. Unfortunately, many parents don't care or actively fight against it. When, a couple of years ago, some parents tried to get rid of the thrice weekly fake ice cream product sold to kids at lunch in our ES, some parents fought against us, saying their kids had a right to treats etc. etc.

We send our kids with packed lunches. The crap they serve them is unbelievable.

If you find someone to complain to please post here. I would happily join you in complaining!

I agree, the choices are disgusting. Never let my kids buy lunch at school.

Good luck. A few years ago they won some award for providing such nutritious meals. Not sure who voted on that panel.

Where do we go if we are concerned with the lunch offerings? We just moved from DC to Bethesda and I am appalled by the lunch options.
This week is a four day week and the kids were offered cheese or pepperoni pizza on two days. Why is MCPS so behind in nutrition and what
can parents do about it?