Some School Systems Are Dropping Out of Healthy Food Programs

Some School Districts Quit Healthier Lunch Program due to lack of interest from those it is supposed to help. They are bleeding money and see the best way to stop is to drop from the programs. 

Should they drop out or keep trying to get kids to eat healthier? 

YES! Now todays kids can have sausage Pizza again like I did back in the day at school! Take that HOOD rats!Jakandsigz

Back when I was in high school, I took a sack lunch to school every day. I used to sell that to classmates while at Vo-Tech (they loved my Ma's egg salad for some reason). I would take the money back to school and eat a hamburger every day unless they had pizza or something else that I would eat. 

We should obviously drop these programs. We need to take the money that is being lost on fresh food and put it towards administrators who oversee everything from the beautiful, well-decorated offices. That way, they don't have to breathe the same air as the children they are trying to oversee.

good.

I doubt it was the food choices rather how the food was prepared. Usually the healthy choices at school is really disgusting. It's rarely cooked well, there is no flavor, everything is mushy, and in general the portions aren't high enough of the healthier food to actually be enough calories for the rest of the day at school.

Just limit their portion sizes and make them run in PE.

I doubt it was the food choices rather how the food was prepared. Usually the healthy choices at school is really disgusting. It's rarely cooked well, there is no flavor, everything is mushy, and in general the portions aren't high enough of the healthier food to actually be enough calories for the rest of the day at school.

Wasdie

that and those who hated the food (either because it was poor or "too healthy") just brought their own cheetos and dew and whatnot.  Or went home and ate the junk anyways.

Just limit their portion sizes and make them run in PE.

lostrib

If you limited the portion sizes of my high school lunches after they adopted the healthy plan, there'd be nothing left on the tray

"The School Nutrition Association found that 1 percent of 521 district nutrition directors surveyed over the summer planned to drop out of the program in the 2013-14 school year and about 3 percent were considering the move."

I dunno...doesn't seem like a big deal. Personally I think providing good healthy food to kids at school is a great idea. If you want your kids eating junk, send them to school with a doggy bag of junk.

The reality is that parents are primarily to blame for their kids crappy eating habits  My kids eat all sorts of food, but you have no idea how many of their friends come over for dinner and refuse to eat anything that's not pizza, chicken nuggets, or chef boyardee. 

If a kid is fat, it is not because of the one meal they eat at school.

I like to consider myself a moderate (liberal-leaning, even), but even programs like these are just full of hippy-dippy nonsense that disgust me, where parents can misplace the blame from themselves onto the school.

Take this money, and invest it into physical activities and sports (if anything) for kids.  Hell, buy them jerseys or establish a fund for people below a certain income line so they can afford sports wear and athletic fees.

They're kids...they should be able to eat pizza once a week, candy at the movies, and STILL maintain a healthy body.  Why? Because they're out there moving around so damn much.

Shit I really hate to sound like an old man, but back in my day it really was not a concern what we ate; I had responsible parents, played a few sports, and was outside most of the time playing.

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

Just limit their portion sizes and make them run in PE.

wis3boi

If you limited the portion sizes of my high school lunches after they adopted the healthy plan, there'd be nothing left on the tray

problem solved

Please god i hope they don't get rid of soft drinks PleaseGodNo

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

Please god i hope they don't get rid of soft drinks PleaseGodNo

my old high school stopped selling them 10 years ago. Water only

[QUOTE="PleaseGodNo"]

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

lostrib

yes, and replaced them with "juice"

[QUOTE="PleaseGodNo"]Please god i hope they don't get rid of soft drinks wis3boi

my old high school stopped selling them 10 years ago. Water only

That's good. When my school did it, they replaced it with some juice crap, which is actually worse than soda.

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

[QUOTE="PleaseGodNo"]Please god i hope they don't get rid of soft drinks mrbojangles25

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

yes, and replaced them with "juice"

I think we were allowed gatorade at the vending machines.  It has electrolytes

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

lostrib

yes, and replaced them with "juice"

I think we were allowed gatorade at the vending machines.  It has electrolytes

"The School Nutrition Association found that 1 percent of 521 district nutrition directors surveyed over the summer planned to drop out of the program in the 2013-14 school year and about 3 percent were considering the move."

I dunno...doesn't seem like a big deal. Personally I think providing good healthy food to kids at school is a great idea. If you want your kids eating junk, send them to school with a doggy bag of junk.

The reality is that parents are primarily to blame for their kids crappy eating habits  My kids eat all sorts of food, but you have no idea how many of their friends come over for dinner and refuse to eat anything that's not pizza, chicken nuggets, or chef boyardee. 

Renevent42

It might not seem like a large number right now, but that does not mean that number will stay static. Yeah, there are many kids who will not eat anything but junk food or less healthy food and unless parents make them, they will not eat anything else. Still, I cannot see school systems wasting taxpayer money on food that just end up in the trash uneaten from the kid's tray or from the seving pot.

[QUOTE="Renevent42"]

"The School Nutrition Association found that 1 percent of 521 district nutrition directors surveyed over the summer planned to drop out of the program in the 2013-14 school year and about 3 percent were considering the move."

I dunno...doesn't seem like a big deal. Personally I think providing good healthy food to kids at school is a great idea. If you want your kids eating junk, send them to school with a doggy bag of junk.

The reality is that parents are primarily to blame for their kids crappy eating habits  My kids eat all sorts of food, but you have no idea how many of their friends come over for dinner and refuse to eat anything that's not pizza, chicken nuggets, or chef boyardee. 

WhiteKnight77

It might not seem like a large number right now, but that does not mean that number will stay static. Yeah, there are many kids who will not eat anything but junk food or less healthy food and unless parents make them, they will not eat anything else. Still, I cannot see school systems wasting taxpayer money on food that just end up in the trash uneaten from the kid's tray or from the seving pot.

But what you are doing is saying the results are typical from that very small number. According to the story, overall the vast majority of the programs are doing very well and are meeting their goals.  The real question is, should we cancel a program that's largely succesful over concerns that a tiny minority of schools are quitting it?

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

lostrib

yes, and replaced them with "juice"

I think we were allowed gatorade at the vending machines.  It has electrolytes

It has what plants crave?

Well obesity is def a problem and we need a way to curb it. I don't think holding public schools to a healthier standard is a bad thing. At least we could get rid of vending machines in schools. Obesity needs to be fought at home though. I'm betting most obese children learned all their habits at home. HoolaHoopMan

Yup, yup, yup.  I just read a study the other day where they conditioned rats to associate a warning light with a shock, then let them eat tasty but fattening food, then offered them a choice between that food and healthy food with a warning light going off for the unhealthy food.  Despite the warning light and the shokc they got from eating unhealthy food they still ate it to the point of obesity.  If kids are getting hooked on fast food an unhealthy food outside of school then they're going to gravitate to it in school as well.  It's a multi-faceted problem, parents need to learn to help their children to make better choices, but the least schools can do is to not exacerbate the problem.

Don't really see a problem here, if no one is spending money on it then why waste resources providing it?  Wasting money on food no one is going to eat isn't going to make fat kids any less fat.

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

[QUOTE="Renevent42"]

"The School Nutrition Association found that 1 percent of 521 district nutrition directors surveyed over the summer planned to drop out of the program in the 2013-14 school year and about 3 percent were considering the move."

I dunno...doesn't seem like a big deal. Personally I think providing good healthy food to kids at school is a great idea. If you want your kids eating junk, send them to school with a doggy bag of junk.

The reality is that parents are primarily to blame for their kids crappy eating habits  My kids eat all sorts of food, but you have no idea how many of their friends come over for dinner and refuse to eat anything that's not pizza, chicken nuggets, or chef boyardee. 

Renevent42

It might not seem like a large number right now, but that does not mean that number will stay static. Yeah, there are many kids who will not eat anything but junk food or less healthy food and unless parents make them, they will not eat anything else. Still, I cannot see school systems wasting taxpayer money on food that just end up in the trash uneaten from the kid's tray or from the seving pot.

But what you are doing is saying the results are typical from that very small number. According to the story, overall the vast majority of the programs are doing very well and are meeting their goals.  The real question is, should we cancel a program that's largely succesful over concerns that a tiny minority of schools are quitting it?

I am not advocating it either way. Is it working at some schools? Sure, but if it starts to not work, then they should look at discontinuing the program instead of wasting money in a money pit that will not get better due to kid's fickle appetites. 

[QUOTE="Renevent42"]

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]

It might not seem like a large number right now, but that does not mean that number will stay static. Yeah, there are many kids who will not eat anything but junk food or less healthy food and unless parents make them, they will not eat anything else. Still, I cannot see school systems wasting taxpayer money on food that just end up in the trash uneaten from the kid's tray or from the seving pot.

WhiteKnight77

But what you are doing is saying the results are typical from that very small number. According to the story, overall the vast majority of the programs are doing very well and are meeting their goals.  The real question is, should we cancel a program that's largely succesful over concerns that a tiny minority of schools are quitting it?

I am not advocating it either way. Is it working at some schools? Sure, but if it starts to not work, then they should look at discontinuing the program instead of wasting money in a money pit that will not get better due to kid's fickle appetites. 

Also, saw this in the comments:

Its amazing what passes for reporting. Notice the line "isolated reports of schools cutting ties" and then only 2 small NY suburbs are cited. The communities cited as leaving the program are >97% white with median incomes of >$75,000 compared to the median US income $46,000. I guess when you dont have a significant population of free & reduced lunch participants and your "chef" can afford flank steak on salad, you can afford to go without assistance from the government.

commentor

Not sure how true it is but if that's the case, it's even less of a story.  He/she did a bit of an exaggeration (flank steak...laff) but if those districts were richer districts I can see how the program wouldn't be much value to them and actually be worse.

I doubt it's the food. Think back to the school foods people ate in the 70's-90's. It was certainly far from healthy and there wasn't near the obesity problem that we have today. It's more the fact that kids sit on their ass during school and then come home where they proceed to sit on their ass some more until bed time. Getting kids to exercise and get moving instead of sitting all day in front of the x-box will do so much more then trying to get them to eat 5 slightly healthier meals per week. ferrari2001

Well according to a lot studies it is the food, in addition to our ever increasing sedentary life styles. Obviously 5 healthy meals a week isn't going to fix the problem alone, but I don't think that's a very compelling argument to not do it.

is it normal for kids in american schools to get their lunch from school? I always just brought mine from home. In high school there was a small with some crap food, but nobody bought from thereBossPerson

For the poor, it is a major source of sustanance and it is just not lunch, but breakfast too. It is often free or at reduced prices. This is for kids from elementary schools to high school. Myself, I mostly took my lunch as we didn't qualify for either but did get to eat as school on some days if there was something we liked, but it was only once or twice a month.

As far as whether or not healthy foods would make a difference or not, it helps if kids get exercise on a regular basis as we did when I was in school and played outside every day compared to today when you have to force the kids outside to play.  

[QUOTE="ferrari2001"]I doubt it's the food. Think back to the school foods people ate in the 70's-90's. It was certainly far from healthy and there wasn't near the obesity problem that we have today. It's more the fact that kids sit on their ass during school and then come home where they proceed to sit on their ass some more until bed time. Getting kids to exercise and get moving instead of sitting all day in front of the x-box will do so much more then trying to get them to eat 5 slightly healthier meals per week. Renevent42

Well according to a lot studies it is the food, in addition to our ever increasing sedentary life styles. Obviously 5 healthy meals a week isn't going to fix the problem alone, but I don't think that's a very compelling argument to not do it.

[QUOTE="PleaseGodNo"]Please god i hope they don't get rid of soft drinks lostrib

pretty sure a lot of schools already have, removing them from vending machines

[QUOTE="Renevent42"]

[QUOTE="ferrari2001"]I doubt it's the food. Think back to the school foods people ate in the 70's-90's. It was certainly far from healthy and there wasn't near the obesity problem that we have today. It's more the fact that kids sit on their ass during school and then come home where they proceed to sit on their ass some more until bed time. Getting kids to exercise and get moving instead of sitting all day in front of the x-box will do so much more then trying to get them to eat 5 slightly healthier meals per week. ferrari2001

Well according to a lot studies it is the food, in addition to our ever increasing sedentary life styles. Obviously 5 healthy meals a week isn't going to fix the problem alone, but I don't think that's a very compelling argument to not do it.

According to most scientific studies, junk food is a large part of the obesity problem.  At least the vast majority (if not all) of studiesI've read.  Feel free to show whatever studies you are basing your opinion on though would def take a look at them.

I mean, I do agree you can't just expect to solve the problem by changing school lunches and inactivity is also a huge problem...but again I'm not seing a compelling argument against not at least trying to improve the situation by having health lunches instead of the crap sometimes serverd in schools.

Man, one more reason I'm glad I'm an adult. School cafeteria food was awful.

I say they just encourage ridicule of people out of shape. That way those people make healthier choices.

Its probly best just to drop them.

If the kids arent going to be eating healthy out of school, what makes you think they will eat the schools healthy "lunch"?

I'd say the program is definitely a good thing. I know that in the elementary school my mom worked at so many of the kids were eligible for getting free food that they just get enough for everyone. Some of the kids that was their only reliable meal, so that's where a lot of their habits are forming.

The problem is not that the food is healthy, it's how awful and disgusting it is. I just graduated HS in May, so I know how terrible lunches are. The portion sizes are too small, and the food is downright nasty. It doesn't look good and it doesn't taste good. If the food were higher quality, more kids would be eating it.

The problem is not that the food is healthy, it's how awful and disgusting it is. I just graduated HS in May, so I know how terrible lunches are. The portion sizes are too small, and the food is downright nasty. It doesn't look good and it doesn't taste good. If the food were higher quality, more kids would be eating it.

WiiRocks66

 

yes, and replaced them with "juice"

mrbojangles25

"juice" >_>

I've never understood the point of getting food at school. It's obviously going to be crap compared to what you or your parants could make at home, plus no waiting in a line. If your family is flat broke, then it makes sense, but if a family can afford to feed their kid, it seems obvious to do it =/

The problem is not that the food is healthy, it's how awful and disgusting it is. I just graduated HS in May, so I know how terrible lunches are. The portion sizes are too small, and the food is downright nasty. It doesn't look good and it doesn't taste good. If the food were higher quality, more kids would be eating it.

WiiRocks66

A major problem with U.S. obesity is that portion sizes have grown.

The problem is not that the food is healthy, it's how awful and disgusting it is. I just graduated HS in May, so I know how terrible lunches are. The portion sizes are too small, and the food is downright nasty. It doesn't look good and it doesn't taste good. If the food were higher quality, more kids would be eating it.

WiiRocks66

School lunches sound like they have not changed much over the years. All schools have big steam kettles that they boil chicken before putting it in the oven to bake or roast it and dump barbecue sauce on if that is what they are after. I ate a lot of hamburgers in high school as I didn't like most stuff that the schools served (I am still a picky eater though I eat a bigger variety than I used to). Even stuff that I liked didn't have much taste to it at all and that due to how institutional food is made (this happens in the military too, but depending on the service, gets better food to start with) and what the ingredients are. Schools most likely do not get Grade A food or vegetable or at least Choice Beef. 

Portion sizes may have gotten smaller and that is due to school systems trying to save money. Free and reduced meals at school get expensive. To trim costs, it only makes sense to cut portion size. Higher quality food costs more and using that would make serving sizes ridiculously small compared to what they are now. There are ways to make poorer foods taste better, but again, it takes money to have the stuff on hand to do that.

  Here is my solution to the problem, stop having people sit in classes for eight hours a day!  How about people bring their own food?  Just not have schools have any part in food.  If you got a job, your employer does not feed you.  Except they might have a vending machine right near ya, so watch out!  I read an article that basically says that sitting around for too long causes your heart rate to stay low for too long that it can not go back up no matter how hard you try.  Oh here it is http://www.cracked.com/article_18654_6-ways-your-office-literally-killing-you_p2.html  You can thank me all for saving your miserable lives that probably been at jeopardy.