Pantagraph.com | Letters | Schools should offer healthy menu choices

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Jen- wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:02 PM:

" I remember what Lunch was like in Junior high and high school - They served pizza EVERY day, had a salad bar that was WAY more expensive than the regular meal. you could also get Ice cream every day too. Please tell me HOW this kind of diet (sans the salad) is healthy??? I eat more veggies and fruits everyday and drink more milk than anything else (meat or bread, but I eat those too), and don't need to exercise (my doctor actually wants me to GAIN weight). To the woman who feeds her kids Hamburgers and milkshakes.... I feel bad for you and your kids, you all must be fat and ugly and unhappy. "

RE: TO: Yeah wrote on Nov 28, 2007 9:02 PM:

" I agree with you completely! Offer your children food and when they are hungry enough they will eat it...glad to see someone has their head on straight around here! "

My Food Choice wrote on Nov 28, 2007 5:46 PM:

" Is that Olivia goes to McDonalds and learns the nutrional value of a triple quarter pounder with cheese, super size fries, and a glutonous triple large chocolate shake. Only then can she truly appreciate great taste and a great value. "

1 of 12 wrote on Nov 28, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Get real, people. Your kids are fat because they don't go outside and play. One meal isn't going to make them obese. "

TO: Yeah wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:45 PM:

" You are exactly right, but if the junk isn't present in the schools, they won't be able to eat it there. They'll have to go home and get it, or if there's none there, get a job and buy their own junk food. When kids are hungry enough, they'll eat watch's put in front of them. If they're not hungry yet, they probably can stand to lose a few pounds anyway. I can remember my grade school years very well. I ate a good breakfast at home, went to school, and within about 45 minutes before lunch began, I felt like I was starving. I would have eaten (and did) anything that was put in front of me. And no, it wasn't junk food. "

yeah.. wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:21 PM:

" Ever hear of the saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"? You can tell kids how to eat healthy, but you can't force them to do so. "

to RE: to be healthy wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:47 PM:

" wow...angry much. Actually I was a staff member cooking for kids that were DCFS wards in a group home. And as a professional, I can tell you, it certainly was not "healthy" for the kids to eat that junk. "

Crybaby wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:40 PM:

" I've never had the opportunity. Until Now, that is. I mean, to thank the cooks in my grade school cafeteria. No one in my class was ever overweight. Much less obese. Oh no. And we owe it all to our grade school food preparers. Eating their Brownies was the last time I experienced something which wouldn't melt anywhere. Much less in your mouth. They, I understand, all went on to bigger and better things. And who also passed along their culinary talents down to their children. Who, in turn, now prepare the fat ( and just about everything else) free meals for the Airline industry. You could always tell in my school who wisely brought their own lunch. They, unlike the rest of us, are the ones who actually ate lunch. And, when someone yelled 'haul ass', they had to make three trips. Today, you can always spot the flight attendant who brings his/her own lunch. They must make three moves to get into the Biffy. "

menu wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:48 AM:

" I have looked at our grade school menu, I am diabetic and have been through nutritional classes - I don't see that it is THAT bad. It always offers a variety from the food groups. Maybe when you get to the JR. High or High School level it is different but I think our Unit 5 grade school menu is ok. You have to look at portions as well, they aren't allowing kids to take 5 deserts, my kid told me they only allow you to get a 2nd lunch if you have parent permission and you can't ask to replace any item with another. I agree with some of the other comments on here - if you don't like it then pack your kid a lunch and give them no money. "

Re: Mayberry wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:28 AM:

" No, in fact, I grew up in Chicago. I don't blame you for not wanting your kids to walk that far anymore. It's too dangerous, but you have the option of sending a lunch to school with them. There's no excuse for kids eating junk these days. There are just too many good alternatives, and a wise shopper can figure them out. Cost isn't at issue here, health is though. There are ways to figure out a healthy inexpensive lunch. "

gamer_chickie wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Once again, this seems (to me) a parental issue. If a parent isn't happy with the schools food system, then pack your kiddie a lunch from home and didn't give them lunch money to spend on bad food. Shoot, 90% of the time my brother and I had lunches from home....didn't hurt us one bit not to eat school food every day. "

to TO: to mother of two wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:52 AM:

" Where did you live? Mayberry? I'm not letting my young children walk that far by themselves and let themselves into an empty house. "

to chunky whose killing her kids with hardees wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:40 AM:

" First of all, Olivia didn't tell you to eat healthy. She simply made the suggestion cause obviously she cares more about your childs well being then you. Do you want your kids to grow up and have health problems? What great parenting. "

Dont be round wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:28 AM:

" We agree that this is a very true article. All you other people disagreeing need to grow up. "

Mother of 2 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 10:06 PM:

" My kids go to school here, just not public school. They still eat! "

? 4: To Mother Of Two wrote on Nov 27, 2007 5:47 PM:

" I am very curious as to when the district is better than it is today? Our teachers are very hardworking and underpaid...and our students are apparently learning nothing less than your generation...otherwise we wouldn't be in this predinkydink would we... "

RE: to be healthy wrote on Nov 27, 2007 5:43 PM:

" WHAT! You had to use these foods... well if I was hungry I would eat! and just because your family can't afford to shop at SCHNUCKS (sorry for spelling, i cant go there either) doesn't give you the right to complain. I'm sick of it...if you are on welfare...you should be thankfull for what you recieve because my taxdollars are paying for it...and I would bet a million dollars your children are eating better than mine because I'm not eligable! Think about that! "

Preacher teacher wrote on Nov 27, 2007 5:39 PM:

" I don't know where to begin my comments! You are all crazy! First of all, the purpose of school is to provide an education...and I think proper nutrition is part of education. Secondly, think about the children that DEPEND (and no it is not their fault) on the school for their only well-balanced meal of the day! Yes, they need vegetables as served! Thirdly, feed your children whatever they want and where will it get them? You must be kidding me...the school system has enough to worry about and takes on this nutrition debate solely because it is not being taught at home...sad! And to "First the Smoke Nazis, Now Its the Fast Food Fascists" how overweight and SADLY/unknowingly unhealthy are your children growing up! I urge you to think about their health before you think about your URGE for the hamburger and milkshake! "

TO: to mother of two wrote on Nov 27, 2007 4:48 PM:

" The writer didn't say they had a mother who stayed home to serve lunch. The writer said they went home for lunch and then back to school. I too went home for lunch, and from the 2nd grade on, I was taught to heat a can of soup and make a sandwich. In 6th grade I walked 11 blocks home for lunch, and then back to school. I wasn't fat and I got an appropriate amount of sunlight and exercise, especially with the horsing around on the way back to school. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to leave something at home kids can prepare themselves. They can also opt for taking a healthy lunch. I agree the junk they serve in schools isn't the greatest, but there are alternatives. "

To Fatty Free Willy wrote on Nov 27, 2007 4:47 PM:

" i disagree with what you think. Any place, whether it is a school, a home, or anywhere needs some healthy nutrition habits included in it. You can't just eat cookies, gummy worms, laffy taffy, pizza, and cookies all day. You'll get fat and die. I think that was an excellent editorial and that girl knows what she's talking about. Other people should want to be more like her. "

To Mother of 2 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 4:46 PM:

" You didn't say anything liberal in your post. The guy uses "liberal" as an argument when he has nothing valid to say. Notice how he uses it in all of his posts? Empty head. "

'Re to RE to mother of 2 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 4:35 PM:

" you mentioned get with the times and perhaps that is what you lack the mental capacity to do. It is not the schools or the taxpayers responsibility to take care of your kids. If you cant afford to be home with them when they get home from school and make sure they are fed, quit having them. It is not the taxpayers place to feed, babysit, and oversee your kids. It is what it is allright, and what it is are too many irresponsible people having kids they cant afford and expecting everyone else to care for them. "

To Mother of Two wrote on Nov 27, 2007 4:30 PM:

" If your kids do not go to public schools in the twin cities, why are you even putting your Two cents worth in this coversation? "

to be healthy wrote on Nov 27, 2007 2:21 PM:

" the schools will have to stop using gov't food rations. i've had to use these rations to cook "balanced" meals for kids, and I must say, they are of the absolute lowest quality the FDA will allow. Peanut butter that tastes like peanut flavored shortening, hamburger patties that shrink more than 40% when cooked, all very very bad for the poor kids that have to eat it. "

to To Mother Of Two wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:42 PM:

" Nice that you had a mother who stayed at home... things cost more today and a two parent income is almost required. What, do you want kids to come home to an empty house? Get with the times, old man. I'm not saying its better, but what is, is. "

to Re:To The Smoke Nazis wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:41 PM:

" Well, it would seem that we are violently agreeing with each other. All I want is for healthy, low fat meals approved by a nutritionist and restricted access to soda and other sugary drinks. I'll admit that I lean left wing, but I'm the furthest thing from a vegetarian/vegan/kook considering that I eat meat every day. "

Mother of 2 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:22 PM:

" My children do not go to public school here in the twin cities. I pay appropriately for them to be taken care of properly while they are at school. I am not sure how anything liberal came of my post. Teaching good habits (which is part of education) IS, in fact, part of the educational system's responsiblity. And as far as computers go, they are part of life now. You have to be technologically capable to succeed. The teachers at my children's school are wonderful, compassionate, under-paid people who teach my children to be all that they can be every day. "

Done, Done and Done wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:12 PM:

" Close the school cafeterias. Bring your own lunch in. Money saved, problem solved. "

To Mother Of Two wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:29 PM:

" I am sorry but your liberal democratic views came jumping out at me. You said if kids should be fed appropriately anywhere it should be school. Nonsense, that is not the purpose of schools. That is something you libs cant get off of. Schools are to provide an education, not a full range of social programs. I went to District 87 schools and odd as is seems, we did not have a lunch program. We also did not have school busess. What we had was an hour and ten minutes everyday to walk home, eat lunch, and return to school. You know another funny thing Mother of 2? The quality of education was superior then, to what it is today. Oh and by the way we did not have computers either, we had dedicated teachers who enjoyed teaching and took their careers seriously. "

Re:To The Smoke Nazis wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Excuse me but the school money IS MY DIME AS WELL, and the Illinois Dept. of Health sets the guidelines for nutrition in the public school system. If you rice cake eating tree huggers want to try and push your vegetarian, tree sap drinks, and carrot sticks at home that's on you. In the schools I prefer to leave it up to nutriionsts that know how to feed large groups the proper amount of daily vitamins, nutrients, and minerals with the money they have alloted, in the budget. You will find that ground turkey is used in place of ground beef for lower fat content and higher nutriition, and hot dogs are made from turkey and chicken as opposed to beef and pork. They do not serve anything other than milk to drink in the elementary schools and no soda is available in the junior high. High school students are allowed to buy soda only before and after school hours. Now that is good enough for me and my tax dollars, so you left wing food fascists need to back off. "

agree wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:16 PM:

" Schools teach good nutrition but don't practice it. Healthy foods should be the ONLY option. Schools dictate what your child will learn while there, they should also dictate what they eat, if the meal is purchased there. Seriously...how can you teach children good nutrition in a class then send them to the cafeteria for a lunch consisting of soda, fries and cookies??? Many kids don't get fruits and veggies at home, school may be the only place they get it. If that's all that's offered, they will eat it. "

Mother of 2 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:55 AM:

" I cannot believe you people would criticize someone who is praising a system that is making our children healthy. Let kids be kids. Feed your kids whatever you want. She is not saying not to do either of those things. Giving our children healthy eating habits is one of the best things we can do for them. Unless, of course, you want your children having low self-esteem, a poor body image, and of course things like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. No one is trying to tell anyone how to raise their kids. If they should be getting fed appropriately anywhere, it should be at school. For a lot of kids, it is the only decent meal they get that day. "

agree wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:51 AM:

agree wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:44 AM:

to First the Smoke Nazis, Now Its the Fast Food Fascists wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:47 AM:

" Do what you want on your own dime, but in the public schools, they ought to be serving high quality food. Its no more expensive than the garbage they serve now and would result in healthier kids who aren't 300lbs. Worst case, if you don't want your kids eating healthy, you could go through the McDonald's drive through on your lunch break and bring it to them. "

Penelope wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:45 AM:

" The school lunch menu is not the problem. Look at the front page article regarding sun, milk, and exercise and its' effect on bone development. Adults and students need to eat in moderation and exercise. And please, get off the high calorie foods cost less soap box. It may be true, but it's pretty simple to shop smart and make good choices. Spend less time in front of the T.V. and video games and more time paying attention to what foods you buy and what you consume at home. "My kids are fat, it's not my fault it's the school's fault" is tiresome. Take some personal responsibility Olivia. "

free willy wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:41 AM:

" i completely disagree. schools should only serve cake, ice cream, gummy worms, and mac n cheese. kids should have enough responsibility to not pick unhealthy foods. "

First the Smoke Nazis, Now Its the Fast Food Fascists wrote on Nov 27, 2007 6:19 AM:

" Why don't some of these people get a life and quit trying to dictate other peoples lifestyles? Olivia you may mean well but I don't give a damn what you think my kids should be eating at school or anywhere else. If you want to live on bean sprouts and alfalpha cakes fine, but don't try to tell me what to feed my family. Why is it some people are not content with controlling their own lives, they want to try and control everyone else? Olivia eat your protein bars and your veggie burgers, I will take my family to Hardees and we will have thick burgers and milkshakes. It is my choice and my right as an American to do that. Despite what you liberals want to try and force on us. "

I work in a school cafeteria wrote on Nov 27, 2007 5:32 AM:

" in another state and we have changed our menu by removing fat snack foods. Our school board has appointed a wellness comittee with a teacher, board member, and two students to over see the menu. I honestly don't think anyone even looks at it. Our menu has improved somewhat but could be much better. As a cook we pay close attention to the menu and can see much still wrong such as the use of to offten can oil based cheese and much of the precooked meat is full of grease. We use way to much of oil based margerine, salt. and sugar. The wellness comittee is looking at whats on the menu, not how it is perpared. "

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