Comments on: School Menu Trends - ‘A’ For Effort? http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:53:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » News on the Seedling Front http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-57111 Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » News on the Seedling Front Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:55:48 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-57111 [...] School Menu Trends - ‘A’ for Effort? [...] [...] School Menu Trends - ‘A’ for Effort? [...]

]]> By: Cindy http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35384 Cindy Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:01:26 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35384 I would give them an A for effort. If a child eating a nutritional plan as this school has designed continued the efforts at home, then they will not be headed toward an overweight/obese lifestyle. Carbohydrates in moderation do not lead to poor health. It's a balancing act. Now, the results may not be perfect and not all calories are created equal, but for heading in the right direction and considering the balance of foods, the school is doing a great job. The real challenge comes in changing parents' attitudes and understanding of nutrition to better support their lifestyle as well as the children. I would give them an A for effort. If a child eating a nutritional plan as this school has designed continued the efforts at home, then they will not be headed toward an overweight/obese lifestyle.

Carbohydrates in moderation do not lead to poor health. It’s a balancing act.

Now, the results may not be perfect and not all calories are created equal, but for heading in the right direction and considering the balance of foods, the school is doing a great job.

The real challenge comes in changing parents’ attitudes and understanding of nutrition to better support their lifestyle as well as the children.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35361 Aaron Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:49:47 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35361 We agree, Migraineur. Which is why half the post was dedicated to mentioning that their efforts are admirable and that improvements were certainly made. A little criticism, which I think you have admitted is warranted and agree with, doesn't mean to say they shouldn't keep doing what they are doing. We understand baby steps have to be made. But, unless there are critics (however nit picky) offering up suggestions relating to further refinement, where will the baby steps lead us? Thanks for the comment! We agree, Migraineur. Which is why half the post was dedicated to mentioning that their efforts are admirable and that improvements were certainly made. A little criticism, which I think you have admitted is warranted and agree with, doesn’t mean to say they shouldn’t keep doing what they are doing. We understand baby steps have to be made. But, unless there are critics (however nit picky) offering up suggestions relating to further refinement, where will the baby steps lead us? Thanks for the comment!

]]> By: Migraineur http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35358 Migraineur Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:23:44 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35358 Well, I have to dissent slightly, Mark and Aaron. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. These meals are far and away better than fast food meals. I think this is great. Would I like to see eggs or some other non-carby breakfast option? Yes. Do I think fruit juice is junk food in a health food suit? Absolutely. Was I hoping that sour cream they were putting on their tacos was full fat? Of course! But I think serving whole foods is remarkable progress. And I think it shows two things - teenagers <i>can</i> appreciate good food if it's presented to them; and food <i>does</i> influence brains (including both behavior and learning). If every school in America did this, our kids would be so much better off than they are now that we might actually be raising a generation of kids who have brains healthy enough to understand the complexities of nutrition. When those kids grew up, we'd have a new generation of parents who wanted to tweak school lunches even further. Well, I have to dissent slightly, Mark and Aaron. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. These meals are far and away better than fast food meals. I think this is great.

Would I like to see eggs or some other non-carby breakfast option? Yes. Do I think fruit juice is junk food in a health food suit? Absolutely. Was I hoping that sour cream they were putting on their tacos was full fat? Of course!

But I think serving whole foods is remarkable progress. And I think it shows two things - teenagers can appreciate good food if it’s presented to them; and food does influence brains (including both behavior and learning).

If every school in America did this, our kids would be so much better off than they are now that we might actually be raising a generation of kids who have brains healthy enough to understand the complexities of nutrition. When those kids grew up, we’d have a new generation of parents who wanted to tweak school lunches even further.

]]> By: Nancy S http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35345 Nancy S Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:42:48 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35345 Oh, I forgot to mention that this is also a school district that put limits on the number of parties each class can have involving candy or the time of day you could bring a birthday snack/pizza into class. I guess if they are getting their fill of sugar at breakfast there really is no need to bring in cupcakes or to have more than three candy-fest parties a year. I don't get how they can try to limit "bad" food by limiting parties but they can freely give away junk food and call it breakfast. Oh, I forgot to mention that this is also a school district that put limits on the number of parties each class can have involving candy or the time of day you could bring a birthday snack/pizza into class. I guess if they are getting their fill of sugar at breakfast there really is no need to bring in cupcakes or to have more than three candy-fest parties a year. I don’t get how they can try to limit “bad” food by limiting parties but they can freely give away junk food and call it breakfast.

]]> By: Nancy S http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35342 Nancy S Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:40:25 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/public-school-lunch/#comment-35342 Our neighborhood school in Texas had a free breakfast and my neighbor didn't understand why I didn't take advantage of it. The options were sugary cereals, pastries, cereal bars, yogurt (more sugar than yogurt type), biscuits and gravy, pancakes and syrup, you get the idea. I figured the eggs w/cheese, fresh fruit, and whatever else I was cooking (yes, even the hash browns lol) were better for them than all that sugar and preservatives. Unfortunately I've fallen off the wagon during our move overseas and have been buying bad cereal (when I say I fell off the wagon, it's more like I took a running leap lol). Time to get back on track! Our neighborhood school in Texas had a free breakfast and my neighbor didn’t understand why I didn’t take advantage of it. The options were sugary cereals, pastries, cereal bars, yogurt (more sugar than yogurt type), biscuits and gravy, pancakes and syrup, you get the idea. I figured the eggs w/cheese, fresh fruit, and whatever else I was cooking (yes, even the hash browns lol) were better for them than all that sugar and preservatives. Unfortunately I’ve fallen off the wagon during our move overseas and have been buying bad cereal (when I say I fell off the wagon, it’s more like I took a running leap lol). Time to get back on track!

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