I'm all for healthy eating but don't kids who are still growing require more calories and food they will actually eat?

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:44:17 -0400

http://eagnews.org/thanksmichelleobama-school-resumes-students-begin-posting-skimpy-lunches/

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Aug 31 at 2015 11:04 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:04:28 -0400

yes. Its been reported that schools dropped out of the healthy meals program when kids complained about being hungry even after the meal and when students in athletics decreased in performance due to lack of needed calories to keep up their training.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 1 at 2015 2:16 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:16:36 -0400

Another Interesting Article along the same line that I read today.

To Thrive, Many Young Female Athletes Need A Lot More Food

Doctors and parents often miss the signs of female athlete triad syndrome — low energy, low bone density and irregular menstruation in an otherwise healthy-looking girl or teen.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Sep 1 at 2015 9:11 AM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 09:11:32 -0400

Even before this lunch program was established I don't think the schools were providing enough food for athletes. I can't even imagine being an athlete who has no options but to eat these school lunches.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 3:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:55:47 -0400

Those pictures in the article are disgusting. I would not let my family eat that.

Current thought is, people should eat every 2-3 hours, avoid processed food and simple carbs. Instead they should eat diets made of grass fed meat, whole milk, fruit, vegetables and complex carbs. That is common knowledge these days- but look how few adults eat that way, let alone kids. I have heard people say it is too expensive to eat healthy. I have been feeding my family whole food for years and spend less than most of the people who tell me it is too expensive to stop feeding their kids junk. Most of our great grand parents and grandparents were able to figure it out- seems like we can, too.

It is the same issue for schools: processed food is cheaper and more convenient to buy than whole foods.

Schools receive federal funding for the school lunch programs and (most) parents have to pay a small amount for lunches to off set the cost to the school. Some schools keep ordering from the restaurant supply chains because it is convenient and processed carbs are cheaper than complex carbs, etc. What is interesting is that it is not currently mandated as to WHERE the schools purchases their food. (other than FDA approved sources)

What is for lunch in a particular school may very well be similar to what is on the dinner table at home. Really, if parents were upset about the food quality at their kid's school and they didn't feed their children that way at home, wouldn't they do something about it? A crowd of angry moms is definitely a force to be reckoned with, right?

I am a behavior consultant and I travel to public schools all over my state, I mostly see lunches like what is in the article, but at some schools I have sees healthy, fresh food. I wonder why some schools can figure out how to do it and others can't?

I can't help but think this is a matter of parent/community involvement.