Comments on: Maybe ketchup IS a vegetable, and other thoughts on lunch

By: Deborah Quinn

Deborah Quinn — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:32:03 +0000

@HCW: exactly. Horrifying–the girls who most need dietary guidance are being served funnel cakes instead (what IS a funnel cake, exactly?) All that stuff is cheap and easy to make, easy to serve, and kids love it (sort of) because of all the grease and sugar. And then teachers wonder why they have behavioral problems in the classrooms as kids zoom up and then crash down with all that sugar… Why are these menus okay is my question? Can’t some stimulus money be directed at helping school lunch programs do a better job?

By: HCW

HCW — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:02:15 +0000

Fortunate or not fortunate; as an elementary school social worker I facilitate many “Friendship Clubs” during the girls’ lunch periods. Where should I start? The fact that NJ schools deem pancakes, funnel cake, hash browns, and french fries a well balanced meal? The fact that the student body can pull up to a table with large pitchers of syrup and vats of ketchup, and pour, pour, pour to their hearts content. Or how ’bout the Cherry Italian Ices that turn the students’ mouths an unnatural shade of red? And I can’t forget the “ribeye sandwich.” Noone is quite sure what that really is. Guess it shouldn’t be too surprising that half of the girls who are “invited” to the Clubs are largely overweight and are struggling to make and maintain friendships. Sad.

By: Deborah Quinn

Deborah Quinn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:16:56 +0000

I’ve made my peace with the juice box, actually (and how weird is it that we feel vaguely guilty about them?) — it’s just apple juice and water, nothing added, and it’s the only time we do “the box” –otherwise, at home, it’s milk or water… It’s just endless, isn’t it, the internal and external negotiations about what to eat/what to serve…

By: April

April — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:42:08 +0000

I finally got my girls off the juice boxes and just give them water now. Woo hoo!

By: Alix

Alix — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:48:32 +0000

Love the suggestion that Goldman Sachs sponsor our school lunch program. HA!