This is OP. Thanks for all the responses. My son does sometimes bring a water bottle. I just find it kind of crazy that they are selling water. While it has no nutritional value, aren't we all supposed to strive for 8 cups of water a day? Isn't that a legit reason to allow a child to substitute it for milk?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to know if there is any way to get my kid to stop buying cookies! I send his lunch most days but keep some $$$ on the account for chicken tenders day, which he likes. Now I log on and see he's been buying a cookie every day, and sometimes juice -- even though I send him with a juicebox. Any way to turn off that setting???

I think there is a setting that you can prohibit the purchase of snacks or certain items, but maybe try talking to him that the money isn't there for snacks before you change the settings?

Can't find that setting.

He's six. He shouldn't be allowed to decide whether or not he wants a cookie. He needs to eat the lunch I sent him.

you can definitely limit purchases to one meal per day and exclude all the "extras". They used to have a button on the school lunch payment site, but I don't see it anymore. Nevertheless, I was talking to the FCPS food administrator about a billing problem we had and she told me I could set it to limit it to just one meal or other limitations. So, I think you may have to email the FCPS admin on the nutrition page or your local cafeteria manager. They can set limits on purchases. Seems like they took that option off the Myschoolbucks site.

Anonymous wrote:In our FCPS elementary school, I don't think they enforce the milk thing or the vegetable thing anymore. My daughter doesn't drink milk and hasn't in years. She buys the water and when I look at her purchases, they don't include milk and she says they don't make her buy it. My son doesn't eat school vegetables; I remember when he was in K, they did make him put it on his tray, but this year they don't show up on his purchase history, but fruit (which he does eat) does. He also says he doesn't take the vegetables and no one makes him.

I agree with this. My DS buys a water when he buys lunch, and no milk shows up on his purchase. That said, now that I realize I am being charged for the water (and like others, WTF?) I will now pack a reusable water bottle for him to drink instead. So stupid.

In our FCPS elementary school, I don't think they enforce the milk thing or the vegetable thing anymore. My daughter doesn't drink milk and hasn't in years. She buys the water and when I look at her purchases, they don't include milk and she says they don't make her buy it. My son doesn't eat school vegetables; I remember when he was in K, they did make him put it on his tray, but this year they don't show up on his purchase history, but fruit (which he does eat) does. He also says he doesn't take the vegetables and no one makes him.

Just to be clear - milk is a federal requirement. You can thank the National Dairy Council - you know, the "Got Milk?" People.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Since you are a teacher I assume you have been to the cafeteria at lunch time. You know was well as I do no one is making those kids eat the fruits or veggies. So of course we all agree that it is great to have them available and we hope they will eat them but let's be realistic..the fruits and veggies are ending up in the trash most of the time.

Our school (in DC) the kids eat in the classroom, and yes, I've sat with my kids and eaten with them. No, no one makes them eat the fruits or veggies (I don't make my kid eat them either, so again the "it's different from parents thing doesn't really hold up"), but in my experience the youngest kids all only eat a portion of their meal. Sometimes they eat the fruit or the veggie, sometimes they drink the milk, sometimes they eat the entree, but the portions are large for a Kindergartener. As they get older, the portions don't grow, so most of it gets eaten. I do think that the exposure to the veggies in the early years leads to kids feeling more comfortable with them, and being more willing to eat them as they are older. Do fruits and veggies still get thrown out? Yes, they do. Is it "most" of the time? No, probably a little less than half. A lot of fruit, in particular, also gets stashed in backpacks to go home to parents and little siblings, or to have something for the weekend. Often times a kid will realize a friend is stashing food and will offer his fruit too.

Now, I teach in the kind of school that the school lunch program is designed for. Most of my kids are low income. It may be that kids in higher income homes are pickier, and your statement that most of the fruit and veggies are thrown out is true.

However, I think that modifying a program that is designed to serve poor children, for whom the complete meals are crucial, to save middle class children from having to use the water fountain is probably not the best solution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Since you are a teacher I assume you have been to the cafeteria at lunch time. You know was well as I do no one is making those kids eat the fruits or veggies. So of course we all agree that it is great to have them available and we hope they will eat them but let's be realistic..the fruits and veggies are ending up in the trash most of the time.

She doesn't want to be realistic, she wants to feel good knowing that school lunches are served with vegetables. Don't we all? But realistic people recognize that wasting food (and money!) isn't wise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Since you are a teacher I assume you have been to the cafeteria at lunch time. You know was well as I do no one is making those kids eat the fruits or veggies. So of course we all agree that it is great to have them available and we hope they will eat them but let's be realistic..the fruits and veggies are ending up in the trash most of the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to know if there is any way to get my kid to stop buying cookies! I send his lunch most days but keep some $$$ on the account for chicken tenders day, which he likes. Now I log on and see he's been buying a cookie every day, and sometimes juice -- even though I send him with a juicebox. Any way to turn off that setting???

I think there is a setting that you can prohibit the purchase of snacks or certain items, but maybe try talking to him that the money isn't there for snacks before you change the settings?

Can't find that setting.

He's six. He shouldn't be allowed to decide whether or not he wants a cookie. He needs to eat the lunch I sent him.

Anonymous wrote:I just want to know if there is any way to get my kid to stop buying cookies! I send his lunch most days but keep some $$$ on the account for chicken tenders day, which he likes. Now I log on and see he's been buying a cookie every day, and sometimes juice -- even though I send him with a juicebox. Any way to turn off that setting???

I think there is a setting that you can prohibit the purchase of snacks or certain items, but maybe try talking to him that the money isn't there for snacks before you change the settings?

Our school collects unopened dairy and fruits on a table, refrigerates them, and PTA volunteers bring them to the food pantry every few days.

I just want to know if there is any way to get my kid to stop buying cookies! I send his lunch most days but keep some $$$ on the account for chicken tenders day, which he likes. Now I log on and see he's been buying a cookie every day, and sometimes juice -- even though I send him with a juicebox. Any way to turn off that setting???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Yeah, that's not the same thing at all though. You're the parent. The school isn't going to get kids to drink milk and eat foods they don't like just because they require it to complete a lunch purchase. I also give my kid vegetables and fruit with every meal, and he likes all of them except eggplant and tomatoes, but eating at school and at home are two different things. It is wasteful what they do in fcps. The amount of perfectly good food and unopened milks in the trash every day is the evidence. If you deny that then you aren't being honest.

Yes, it's exactly the same thing. The fact that you're willing to waste food in order for your precious child to learn to like more foods, but not for other people's children says that you don't see them as equivalent.

As a former K teacher (I know teach an upper grade), I can tell you that many kids pick at their food and avoid the vegetables and the milk in the beginning, and then one day, they're bored enough to try. Or they see the kid across from them take a swig and they decide to too. Seeing kids become comfortable with food because it's familiar works exactly the same way at school or at home.

You disagree with me so you respond with condescension. This is a good indication that it's a waste of time to respond anymore. But I will say that you should try to keep an open mind, teacher.

You called me dishonest, disagreed with my actual observations, and then complain about how I respond to you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Yeah, that's not the same thing at all though. You're the parent. The school isn't going to get kids to drink milk and eat foods they don't like just because they require it to complete a lunch purchase. I also give my kid vegetables and fruit with every meal, and he likes all of them except eggplant and tomatoes, but eating at school and at home are two different things. It is wasteful what they do in fcps. The amount of perfectly good food and unopened milks in the trash every day is the evidence. If you deny that then you aren't being honest.

Yes, it's exactly the same thing. The fact that you're willing to waste food in order for your precious child to learn to like more foods, but not for other people's children says that you don't see them as equivalent.

As a former K teacher (I know teach an upper grade), I can tell you that many kids pick at their food and avoid the vegetables and the milk in the beginning, and then one day, they're bored enough to try. Or they see the kid across from them take a swig and they decide to too. Seeing kids become comfortable with food because it's familiar works exactly the same way at school or at home.

You disagree with me so you respond with condescension. This is a good indication that it's a waste of time to respond anymore. But I will say that you should try to keep an open mind, teacher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had this fight with Loudoun and lost. Milk is included. A tiny (half size) water bottle is .75 cents extra. Its bull$shit. But they wouldn't budge. So my daughter buys lunch with no drink and when she gets thirsty walks across the cafeteria to the water fountain. She has a bottle of water in the classroom, but doesn't feel like carrying it to lunch.

So stupid. You know the milk costs more than the water bottle I can buy at Costco for 4 cents.

It is stupid, you're right, but you should send in an extra smaller water or have your daughter bring lunch from home. In FCPS you are actually required to take the milk. You aren't allowed to buy a lunch without a drink. THAT is stupid. And incredibly wasteful. Nothing irritates me more than knowing about all of the waste that happens in public schools while they complain about the budget and ask for more of the taxpayers money.

I am a parent who put vegetables on my child's plate for years before he ate them consistently. I didn't consider that waste. I considered it an investment in healthy eating and expanding his palate. And it worked, but itbwasba long game.

I teach in the city, and I consider my students to be worth the same investment.

Yeah, that's not the same thing at all though. You're the parent. The school isn't going to get kids to drink milk and eat foods they don't like just because they require it to complete a lunch purchase. I also give my kid vegetables and fruit with every meal, and he likes all of them except eggplant and tomatoes, but eating at school and at home are two different things. It is wasteful what they do in fcps. The amount of perfectly good food and unopened milks in the trash every day is the evidence. If you deny that then you aren't being honest.

Yes, it's exactly the same thing. The fact that you're willing to waste food in order for your precious child to learn to like more foods, but not for other people's children says that you don't see them as equivalent.

As a former K teacher (I know teach an upper grade), I can tell you that many kids pick at their food and avoid the vegetables and the milk in the beginning, and then one day, they're bored enough to try. Or they see the kid across from them take a swig and they decide to too. Seeing kids become comfortable with food because it's familiar works exactly the same way at school or at home.