Comments on: Free Lunch for the Inner-City Kids - Does Free Mean it Needs to Be Crap? http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/ Musings on Starters, Mains, Desserts and Second-Helpings... Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:22:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: admin http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-2694 admin Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:27:21 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-2694 bea - thank you so much for this well thought-out comment. we really appreciate it. my husband is british and we often talk about how ahead they are with things that just take a bit of thought and a conscience - environmental issues, social issues (gay marriage) and now obesity issues. i wish america would catch up and really get with it and DO something! thanks again. bea - thank you so much for this well thought-out comment. we really appreciate it. my husband is british and we often talk about how ahead they are with things that just take a bit of thought and a conscience - environmental issues, social issues (gay marriage) and now obesity issues. i wish america would catch up and really get with it and DO something!
thanks again.

]]> By: Bea http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-2690 Bea Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:54:47 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-2690 I've taught in public schools for 15 years, and it is amazing how the food teenagers eat affects not only mood and behavior, but also the ability to learn. It is just a fact that everyone knows that the greatest discipline problems occur in the period after lunch when the kids are crashing off of their sugar highs, and buzzing on caffine. Diet directy affects student performance, and the sad fact is that we are a culture that is inundated with junk food. At schools with a higher SES, the kids will still opt for vending machines over the cafeteria because the cafeteris is largely pre-fabbed steamtable crap from the lowest bidder, who, at my district, happens to be Sodexo--a major corp that has the wherewithall to make a difference, but still feeds kids pizza with french fries as a valid lunch option. Jamie Oliver has started a national campaign in Britain on exactly this issue. the "Feed me Better" petition spurred changes in national school lunch standards. It is an ongoing campaign and the journey is fascinating. http://www.jamieoliver.com/schooldinners I’ve taught in public schools for 15 years, and it is amazing how the food teenagers eat affects not only mood and behavior, but also the ability to learn. It is just a fact that everyone knows that the greatest discipline problems occur in the period after lunch when the kids are crashing off of their sugar highs, and buzzing on caffine. Diet directy affects student performance, and the sad fact is that we are a culture that is inundated with junk food. At schools with a higher SES, the kids will still opt for vending machines over the cafeteria because the cafeteris is largely pre-fabbed steamtable crap from the lowest bidder, who, at my district, happens to be Sodexo–a major corp that has the wherewithall to make a difference, but still feeds kids pizza with french fries as a valid lunch option.
Jamie Oliver has started a national campaign in Britain on exactly this issue. the “Feed me Better” petition spurred changes in national school lunch standards. It is an ongoing campaign and the journey is fascinating.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/schooldinners

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-93 Jonathan Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:34:28 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-93 Thank you for the kind words, Maria. I'm definitely going to check out the book you recommended. I originally wrote this post just to get my disgust off my chest, but now I'm actually noticing more and more stuff when it comes to these kids eating habits. Let's continue to talk about it and make others aware - that's how change can really occur. Thanks again! amy Thank you for the kind words, Maria. I’m definitely going to check out the book you recommended. I originally wrote this post just to get my disgust off my chest, but now I’m actually noticing more and more stuff when it comes to these kids eating habits. Let’s continue to talk about it and make others aware - that’s how change can really occur. Thanks again!
amy

]]> By: Sacred Harvest http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-94 Sacred Harvest Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:56:13 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-94 I really like your blog and I enjoyed this article. I first got turned on to nutrition when I worked with behavioral disorder teenagers - I was amazed at all the sugar and caffeine they were allowed while being medicated for hyper activity. I'm currently reading the Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and to see how systemic junk food is into our culture and politics is stunning. Thanks for writing this! Best, Maria from Sacred Harvest I really like your blog and I enjoyed this article. I first got turned on to nutrition when I worked with behavioral disorder teenagers - I was amazed at all the sugar and caffeine they were allowed while being medicated for hyper activity. I’m currently reading the Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and to see how systemic junk food is into our culture and politics is stunning. Thanks for writing this! Best, Maria from Sacred Harvest

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-96 Jonathan Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:31:57 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-96 Thank you so much for the comment, Katie. Really, good luck in your internship. I was there last year, girl! Unpaid and working your buns off. Keep at it! Let me know if any of the kids or parents are responsive to your newsletter. I'd be really curious. Good luck! -amy Thank you so much for the comment, Katie. Really, good luck in your internship. I was there last year, girl! Unpaid and working your buns off. Keep at it! Let me know if any of the kids or parents are responsive to your newsletter. I’d be really curious. Good luck! -amy

]]> By: Katie http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-95 Katie Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:03:00 +0000 http://www.weareneverfull.com/free-lunch-for-the-inner-city-kids-does-free-mean-it-needs-to-be-crap/#comment-95 Hi there :) I definitely understand your concerns. I happen to be a school counselor too! (well, i'm still in my internship, but am there often enough to feel like it is my full-time job!) At my school, the lunch menu actually says at the bottom that "each day, school lunches fulfill the food pyramid recommendations for a healthy and balanced lunch..." or something along those lines. But a lot of times, sugary, canned fruits or FRUIT ROLL-UPS are the only thing from the fruit group on the kid's plates, and two leaves of iceberg lettuce with dressing on top counts as their veggie. Smiley-faced french fries are often the carbs, and fried chicken nuggets are often the protein. Low-fat milk is probably one of the only healthy things I see the kids eating. What's so hard about providing whole-wheat breads and fruit, or at least 100% juice!? BALANCED doesn't necessarily mean HEALTHY! (and how often do you see american cheese show up in foodie blogs? bleah!) I'm glad that you got some of your students to see that cabbage is tasty! For one of my projects, I'm sending a newsletter home to parents about healthy habits. I'm going to include a few fun recipes that kids will like to help make and that are healthy too. Ok, I will now wrap up the longest blog comment in the history of time :) Hi there :) I definitely understand your concerns. I happen to be a school counselor too! (well, i’m still in my internship, but am there often enough to feel like it is my full-time job!) At my school, the lunch menu actually says at the bottom that “each day, school lunches fulfill the food pyramid recommendations for a healthy and balanced lunch…” or something along those lines. But a lot of times, sugary, canned fruits or FRUIT ROLL-UPS are the only thing from the fruit group on the kid’s plates, and two leaves of iceberg lettuce with dressing on top counts as their veggie. Smiley-faced french fries are often the carbs, and fried chicken nuggets are often the protein. Low-fat milk is probably one of the only healthy things I see the kids eating.

What’s so hard about providing whole-wheat breads and fruit, or at least 100% juice!? BALANCED doesn’t necessarily mean HEALTHY!

(and how often do you see american cheese show up in foodie blogs? bleah!)

I’m glad that you got some of your students to see that cabbage is tasty! For one of my projects, I’m sending a newsletter home to parents about healthy habits. I’m going to include a few fun recipes that kids will like to help make and that are healthy too.

Ok, I will now wrap up the longest blog comment in the history of time :)

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