What most students are looking forward to, what teachers try to avoid, what the government has had a hard time regulating, what parents have flamboyant opinions about, what workers dread cleaning up: cafeteria lunches. In my day, Elementary lunches consisted of a rotation of planned meals that were unhealthy by most standards, but just enough balanced to be legal for at least 10 years in a row. My plate might consist of a large slice of pepperoni pizza, canned green beans, a roll of somesort, chocolate milk, and of course, jello topped with whipped cream. Filling, sure. Balanced, for the most part. Healthful, well now that's another story.
Health standards in public school cafeterias have evolved into more strict menus of previously-approved items. Lunchworkers do well nowadays to provide meals that are lower in calorie and higher in vitamins and nutrients. Even items with high amounts of salt or sugar have been cut down. But along with this healthy initiative, students are finding a loophole called the "a la carte" menu. By the time I reached high school, lunch ladies were limiting the number of french fries each plate carried, so we turned to the snack bar to purchase our beloved fried chicken sandwiches and Milo's sweet tea instead. We didn't heed the government-regulated, balanced lunch that would sustain us through 7th period Algebra II; and some of us now regret our decisions.
According to Zrinka's article, more studies have shown the positive effect of healthy eating on test scores. Researchers' work shows that eating the banana-salad-chicken breast-cornbread-milk meal far outperforms the pizza-pop approach in the learning environment. Zrinka realizes that law now determines what is served for school lunch, and that the hands that prepare school lunches are much more aware and determined to provide healthful meals. However, he also sees a trend in students to turn to snack bars and vending machines to scratch their high fructose corn syrup itch. On top of schools taking charge in the lunchroom, Zrinka also advises parents to change their approaches in both packing and purchasing their children's midday meals. Parents can even ask for the lunchroom's weekly or daily menu to better monitor what their child is eating.
Here are a few tips for kids, parents, teachers, food industry workers, and anyone else who wants to "health up" their lunch and be carried past three o'clock:
#1. Brown is beautiful. Eat whole grains!
#2. Add fruits and veggies. The more the better!
#3. Pack some protein. Make energy last!
#4. Fluids are important too. Milk, water, and 100% juice!
lesliehwelsh (Google alias). 6 December, 2010. "The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010." Graphic #1. http://everythingfat.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/child-nutrition-bill/
Naselli, Michael. 16 March, 2011. "School Cafeteria Food Healthy to Eat? Hardly.." Graphic #2.
http://fremdamericanstudies.ning.com/profiles/blogs/school-cafeteria-food-healthyPeters, Zrinka. 2006-2011. "Health Up The Cafeteria Lunch!" Education.com, Inc.
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