School Menu Trends – ‘A’ For Effort?

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Updated on June 25, 2009

You’ve got to hand it to Barbara Stitt and the administrators of Appleton Central High School – they sure are trying. And while we’ll be the first to admit that the improvements in cafeteria fare are certainly admirable, to stick with the schooling theme, they’re far from earning top grades.

So lets look at the positives: It is good news that some schools are now offering salad bars and that they’re contracting with local farmers to ensure that students have access to fresh, wholesome foods. And it is admirable that students are being taught about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet.

But here’s where we have the problem: Much of the menu profiled in this excerpt is extremely carbohydrate heavy – with the school profiled in this video accepting guidance from a bread company no less! Donuts and toast have to go. But pale looking bagels, a slew of muffins and granola is their answer!

Perhaps the most glaring issue in the video is that they say that the changes implemented by the schools bring them into line with the National School Lunch Act made in 1946. Uhhh…1946? Wasn’t there more recent data available? I mean, even the U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its food pyramid since 1946 (but please, don’t even get us started on those changes!)

The bottom line here? The changes profiled in the video are certainly an improvement over soda machines and fast foods, but there is just so much more we can and should be doing to set our children on the path to a lifetime of healthy eating.

What do you think of their attempts to make school lunches healthy?

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