Childhood Obesity and a School Lunch Challenge
18 Mar
There have been lots of changes this week in the fight against childhood obesity. First Lady, Michelle Obama has kicked off her “Let’s Move” campaign to encourage parents and kids to eat right and exercise, Kraft Foods has announced that it will cut 10% of the sodium in their foods over the next few years, and Pepsi has agreed to phase out all full calorie drinks in the nation’s schools. Although these steps are significant, they are not the answer to the growing waistlines of our children. I think most will agree that the fight against obesity starts at home. Teaching your kids how to be healthy and active has to come from parents.
I know it’s not easy. My 3 year olds would play computer games all day if I let them, and they would happily live off French fries and chicken nuggets for the rest of their lives, and to let them would certainly be easier and cheaper for me. But my job as a parent is not to make life easier on myself, my job is to set my children up for a long and successful life. That starts with what you put in their mouth.
Currently, a parent’s job gets harder when you send kids to school. School lunches are atrocious. They were when I was in school and they have only gotten worse with budget cuts and a recession. They are typically all one color and full of saturated fats. Some school systems are better than others, since some schools have more funding than others. By law, school lunches must provide 1/3 of the FDA recommended nutritional value to each child, but I think its pretty safe to say that while these kids may be getting a hot meal, they aren’t learning how to eat well.
The tough part for parents is beating the price of the school lunch. Here in Georgia, the average price for a school lunch is about $2 per child. A reduced lunch is no more than $.40 for those who qualify, and then there are those who qualify for the free-lunch program.
Now, I can’t beat free. I don’t think I can beat $.40 either. And if you and your family honestly can’t afford more than $2 a week on lunch for your child, then please disregard this post ( and think of getting rid of your internet because you could be saving some money there). I do think I can beat $2 per meal though.
So, I am challenging myself. The next 3 posts will be dedicated to making a healthy school lunch for your child for less than $2. I’ll do a lunch for pre-k/elementary school kids, middle school kids, and high schoolers too. I’ll keep them easy and quick to make, because I know that at 6 am all you really want is a big cup of coffee, not to hover in your kitchen trying to pack a lunch.
I also challenge you to pack a healthy lunch for your kids this week instead of buying the one at school. Let me hear what you put in their lunch boxes. How you keep it cold. How you keep it fresh. How you keep it fun and exciting for your kids.
I would also love to hear your thoughts about school lunches and childhood obesity, too. So please shout them out in the comments box for everyone to hear!
Shrimp Tacos with Jalapeno
Yogurt Marinated Chicken
Chickens and Eggs
My three school-aged children have consistently refused to ever eat a school lunch. When the oldest was younger, he was sometimes so grossed out by just seeing the cafeteria food that he couldn't force down what he'd brought. They are strictly sandwich.chips.cookie and maybe Cuties or grapes kind of kids, partly because their father makes their lunches but also because they are picky eaters. Also my kids are little pencil skinnybones so we're not worried about a small portion of chips and a cookie along with their daily dose of PB&J or ham and cheese (always on whole wheat). But I'm excited to see your ideas!
When I was little, my mom cut the menu out every week and had me pick which days I would buy and which I would take. I actually liked a lot of the school's food then.
In Memphis, public schools can no longer serve a lot of the old fried favorites, so no more catfish on Fridays! I never, as a rule, step foot in the cafeteria of the high school where I work. I bring my lunch, usually leftovers.
In case you're curious:
http://www.mcsk12.net/forms/MAR%20ELEM%20MENU%202010.pdf
Erin only eats the school lunch about once a week. Lately, I've been packing a pb&j on whole wheat, strawberries and a cheese stick. Sometimes she wants red bell pepper or a beef stick, too.
Her favorite school lunch is the nacho day – because it comes with a cinnamon roll!!
I don’t really understand this whole school lunch thing, because we don’t have that here (Canada) but here is how I deal with school lunches.
and I fill them. I use silicon muffin cups for the veggies and crackers and tiny container with lids for the fruit (if it’s juicy). THey also have a water bottle. Last year I put in a tiny ice pack to keep it cold but then stopped because it’s not going to kill them to eat cheese that’s been sitting in their insulated lunch bags for 3 hrs.
First of all, my kids eat the same thing every day for a week. That really cuts down on the cost, because I can buy a bag of baby carrots and it’s good for the week. Every weekend they have the option to change, but it’s generally the same: sandwich, veggie, fruit, baked good, crackers.
I bought them clip-it lunch cubes (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/product.asp?SKU=15985097&
My son eats a bagel with cream cheese, baby carrots, kiwi, homemade muffin or granola bar and store-brand goldfish crackers pretty much every day. And has for the last 2 years.
I just did the math and it costs about $7-8/week for his lunches.