School Lunch Reform

The Learning Channel showed an outstanding program on tv called Jamie's School Lunch Project

http://www.feedmebetter.com/

Here's my summary: Well known celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver goes into British school cafeterias to eliminate unhealthy and processed foods (as he calls it "reconstituted"). He successfully convinced school systems to change the menus, which would also mean increase school budgeting for the food. He successfully (with lots of resistance) convinced the kids to eat the food. In the short run, the kids should be able to think and perform better in the classroom, and feel healthier. In the long run ... less obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. He not only encountered a lot of resistance from kids but also school systems and the companies who provide the food, and the cafeteria ladies who had to learn to cook properly ... real food that you don't just heat up.

Schools should teach (by example) how to eat healthy!!!! For example, if you don't have recycling bins in your schools then how can you teach kids the importance of recycling and protecting the environment? If you're trying to teach about the 4 food groups and proper proportions for each group, then that should be represented in what you feed the kids everyday.

Just found this article 6/9/06 "Pa. schools weigh parental fast-food ban" (On yahoo news)

Parents who visit their children at lunch would be required to eat school food rather than bring the children fast-food lunches under a proposed wellness policy in the Palmyra Area School District.

And this article from Time.com also addresses these issues: Retooling School Lunch How two communities are working to serve kids fresher, healthier food--and then actually get them to eat it By AMANDA BOWER

...schools are under pressure ... to serve something more wholesome than greasy burgers and Tater Tots.

Across the U.S., administrators are banning deep-fat fryers from cafeteria kitchens. Sodamakers agreed last month to stop selling their sugary, fizzy products in schools.

But bans are easy compared with changing how kids eat. How do you eliminate junk yet create meals that stay within tight budgets and satisfy fickle tastes?

Recent addtions:

DOG FOOD IS BETTER THAN SCHOOL FOOD!!!- READ THIS

Other links - School Lunch Talk

School Lunch/ Lower standards than fast food - Read here

More to read

Now that I think about it, I think kids are eating the same *quality* of food as prisoners!!!

GOOD NEWS

GOOD NEWS Jaime Oliver to the rescue!!!!

Solution to juice pouch and other waste- Terracycle

Fed-up project

Fed up with school lunch

Healthy Schools Campaign