Whats in your children's School Lunch?

To Buy or to Pack?
Current reports on the state of school lunches are disconcerting. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, "menus in most school lunch programs are too high in saturated fat and cholesterol and too low in fiber- and nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes". PCRM states, "Major changes are needed to protect the health of our nation's youth and to reverse the growing trends of obesity and chronic disease among children and teens." To compound the problem, many schools operate school stores, where the students can buy fast food meals (shipped in daily from national fast-food chains), instant soup-in-a-cup (with a day's worth of sodium at no extra charge), and of course, candy and chips. These stores act as competitors to the school lunch programs.

The good news is that schools all over the country are modifying their menus voluntarily to include healthier options. In Madison County, Ala., students returned from summer break to find many changes in the cafeteria, including smaller portions, more whole grains, and low-fat milk options, all aimed at reducing the state's growing obesity epidemic. In Berkeley, Calif., cafeterias are sourcing their ingredients from local organic farms, increasing the foods' nutritional content as well as boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable agriculture. And in Crystal, Minn., one school excluded fast food vendors from the school store. While reports like this are encouraging to parents, these trends vary state by state and school by school.

Is your child's school more concerned with filling their pockets, or filling their students with wholesome, nutritious foods? Many of these school lunch changes come from a grassroots approach--parents getting involved and making a difference. Could you do something to make a difference to your child and his peers? Visit HealthySchoolLunches.org to get involved.
The School Lunch Dilemma (article)
How America Grew (article)
From Wallet to Waistline (article)
SparkTeam: IBS (link)
SparkPeople Cafe (forum)