WASHINGTON (AP/The Blaze) — School children would have to hold the fries — and pick up more whole grains, fruits and vegetables — on the lunch line under proposed new federal standards for school lunches.
The new standards from the Agriculture Department would be the first major nutritional overhaul of school meals in 15 years. They are expected to be announced Thursday.
The guidelines would require schools to cut sodium in those meals by more than half, use only whole grains and serve low fat milk. It also would limit kids to only one cup of starchy vegetables a week, so schools couldn’t offer french fries every day.
The USDA’s new regulations do not require congressional approval to take effect and, when finalized, schools will be required to meet the standards to qualify for government reimbursement on school meals.
This is the “first major improvement” in the standards that “we’ve seen in a generation, and it reflects the seriousness of the issue of obesity,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Currently, roughly one-third of children and adolescents are considered obese or overweight. Vilsack believes that addressing the childhood obesity problem will help with future medical costs and national security, as many young adults are too out of shape to serve in the military.
USA Today outlines some of the proposed rule’s new requirements:
•Decrease the amount of starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, corn and green peas, to one cup a week.
•Reduce sodium in meals over the next 10 years. A high school lunch now has about 1,600 milligrams of sodium. Through incremental changes, that amount should be lowered over the next decade to 740 milligrams or less of sodium for grades through 9 through 12; 710 milligrams or less for grades 6 through 8; 640 milligrams or less for kindergarten through fifth grades.
•Establish calorie maximums and minimums for the first time. For lunch: 550 to 650 calories for kindergarten through fifth grade; 600 to 700 for grades 6 through 8; 750 to 850 for grades 9 through 12.
•Serve only unflavored 1% milk or fat-free flavored or unflavored milk. Currently, schools can serve milk of any fat content.
•Increase the fruits and vegetables kids are offered. The new rule requires that a serving of fruit be offered daily at breakfast and lunch and that two servings of vegetables be offered daily at lunch.
Over the course of a week, there must be a serving of each of the following: green leafy vegetables, orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, summer squash), beans, starchy and other vegetables. This is to make sure that children are exposed to a variety of vegetables.
• Increase whole grains substantially. Currently, there is no requirement regarding whole grains, but the proposed rules require that half of grains served must be whole grains.
•Minimize trans fat by using products where the nutrition label says zero grams of trans fat per serving.
Vilsack dismisses accusations that the government is trying to “dictate” what people, instead insisting that the new rules try to make sure kids “are as healthy, happy, productive and as successful as God intended them to be,” he says.
The new school meal standards are just one part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 President Obama signed into law on Dec. 13.
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Comments (177)
angelcat
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:52amI taught in elementary school for 30 years. The last 5 years my district instituted strict requirements in the cafeteria. The results? I watched day after day as the fewer and fewer kids bought lunch, more and more kids threw away most of their school lunches, more and more kids who bought lunch brought dessert, chips, a drink from home, more and more parents lined up outside the cafeteria before each lunch period with bags from fast food outlets. If the kids don’t like it, they won’t eat it. End of discussion. Have you every seen a trashcan full of pounds and pounds of trail mix featuring prunes? I have. Or the same trash can full of cooked veggies?
Report Post »mamawalker
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:59amabsolutely true!
Report Post »Promotefreedom
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:51amDon’t tell the government, but they are getting the kids too late in life. Need to mandate a pre-pre-school program where parents must surrender their children at age one. That way the government can train them what is “right” to eat.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 12:54pmYep–retired teacher here!
star7mj
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 3:03pmSo true and being a custodian who, daily, had to gather all that food and toss it in the dumpsters. I would be so upset everyday to see the waste! There are so many homeless people who would have loved that food; such as me and my son at one point in our life. The kids loved the french fries, tater tots and chicken nuggets and when available- the salad bar. We tossed tons of baked potatoes and small packages of carrots. What was very upsetting was watching the children being herded like cattle through the lines to being pushed to hurry up and eat (about 5 minutes or less) . Rush, rush, rush! Then they were herded outside to play after eating; no wonder they got sick a lot! I believe in homeschooling and being the one who parents, using our parenting skills, loving our kids and being there so they have someone to talk with and teach and share. Many days we had kids (elementary school) who didn’t even have a meal and one day my partner and I were giving hugs to a couple of children we knew personally and this one little girl came up to me and asked if she could get a hug too – break your heart! We were told as custodians, you can’t do that – hug kids. Well, we were both moms! How could we not! Common sense people, use your heart, compassion! Love one another – as I have loved you! God bless America, please!
Report Post »Mackerel
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:45amNo condoms until you finish your broccoli.
Report Post »mamawalker
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:56amoh MAc now you have done it – you gave them an idea they will certainly run with…coming soon to a school cafeteria near you…
Report Post »GUT_CHECK
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:45amas a divorced dad who cares about my kids, i would rather see my ex pack the kids lunches. but she never does. she lies under her new boyfriend for the house payment, and lies about the tips she makes at her waitress job, and gets the kids lunches for free. (one of the reasons we arent together anymore) but i feed my kids healthy, and i know they know to eat well. seeing the crap reduced at the school is a good thing. if michelle is anything like her husband, i am scared to think of the other 2699 pages of this bill/law, but whats in this article passes muster with this dad.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:44amWhen I was in grade school, (1963-1972) they sent us home for lunch. We had 45 minutes. We also had milk deliveries every morning, long as we paid our 50 cents a week for the milk.
In HS (1972-1976) the school lunch program was for poorer kids to make sure they got at least one hot meal every day. And it was, according to my classmates, plain ole nasty. There were also a lot of Turkish people, who would go without a lunch the days something of pork was the only thing available. In any case, the food was served by indifferent adults.
Instead of a lunch program, how about giving families a 100% tax deduction on their annual food bill? That would solve more ‘problems’ than what might be school-mandated ‘nutrition’.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 5:10pmthis government will not be giving any tax breaks. This is what has happened to our whole education system – the government has taken over and the parents slave away to pay the taxes to have their kids brainwashed. There is a real reason for home schooling your kids – among other things YOU can see that they eat properly as well as study and learn the things they are going to need to have a future – our schools are turning out socially programmed kids instead of educated ones.
it all boils down to “money” and the lack of parental involvement in the school system. If parents don’t take their schools back and tell the government take their strings and tie themselves up in it – all of this will continue. Schools are falling apart because of teachers unions – not the teachers themselves – but the unions and government interference in what is taught at school.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:40amHow long do you think it will be before the Obama writes an Executive Order forcing schools to by a certain percentage of their product from those Pigford farmers that bilked America out of billions of dollars?
Report Post »teammommy
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:32amI AGREE somewhat…beat me up on this, but if my taxes pay for a bunnch of illegals to eat at school, then they are gonna have to eat what we provide. So many of them are kids that eat junk from the parents too lazy to cook so they get instant/frozen dinners or McD’s. Then they get all kinds of health problems alter that …guess who has to pay for? SO if they dont like the food…they get to bring their own and save my tax $$$.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:31amI played four sports in HS and could barely get enough calories to keep me going. I bought 3 school lunches every day and could barely keep weight on. Maybe its not what the kids are eating that is the cause of the obesity, maybe it’s the fact that less and less kids are participating in extra curicular activities and physical education classes. Just saying….
Report Post »obfuscatenot
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:55amDing-ding-ding- Our school district doesn’t have the money for elementary sports, and they have cut PE to once a week for little kids!!!!!!!!! They have removed slides and swings and merry go rounds, because they are unsafe. Pretend football, lest someone get hurt, goodness sakes all the kids do on the playground anymore is stand around and look at one another, kind of like a prison yard. Hmmmm
Report Post »Americanbeliever
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:31amDon’t complain about the Government schools. Put your kids in private school or home school. There are options. Prioritize your life. Don’t let the government be your source.
Report Post »JChayseed
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:37amSo true!
Report Post »JChayseed
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:31amMy son stopped eating lunch at school, because of the non-choices they are offered. I guess if students stop eating then they will lose weight, and can join the military to fight for the rights they don’t have. Government envolvement in something as simple as a school lunch, to enhance national security is a far stretch of their imagination, you think? I agree with the post recommending we get rid of all the useless government agencies that drain our economy of tax dollars people should be able to put in their own retirement savings accounts, because we know that government is not the answer to our well being when we get older and are unable to continue working. The government is screwing the people and they don’t see it.
Report Post »darlenekay
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:30amMore stupidity out of Washington. I’m a teacher. The kids complain about the food now. Few of them actually take the veggies unless corn is the item. They also pass up the potatoes unless they are french fries. Our district offers a variety of potato dishes which the kids don’t eat. They don’t eat the fruit unless they serve bananas, grapes, or some kind of melon. Everything else gets passed over. So, this new law means there will be more wasted food. Government, get out of our way.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:11amGod Bless you for standing up and giving a shout out. There is/are decent teachers :) Sorry not a grammer expert.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 12:48pm100% correct—–wish I had the trash can concession. They’re going to need mega amounts. Haven’t we really lerned anything from Prohibition?
Report Post »NJGal
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:27amI, for one, am so very grateful that my children are beyond the school lunch stage. I always packed their lunches, but the overwhelming reach of our government into the school system is frightening. I cannot comprehend how so many parents just don’t “get it.” If someone in the school so much as raises their voice or their eyebrow at a child, the parent is in that school screaming before you can blink an eye. However, as long as little Johnny is treated just like everyone else – you can feed his tummy or his brain whatever you like…..
Report Post »wifezilla
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:23amLow fat milk will ensure the school kids stay nice and stupid and easily manipulated since ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS in full fat dairy are necessary for brain development.
Report Post »https://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/323-dietary-recommendations-for-children-recipe-for-future-heart-disease.html
UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:31amYou just won my heart! The best milk I ever had went from the cow, to the bottle, to the fridge, and into my gut. I drink heavy cream, right out of the carton. YUM!
I want to have your baby…(hope you’re really a woman) *LOL*
Whole milk is best for children. I believe, as was said in the comedy “Oh, God”, God created cows to give new moms a break.
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 1:45pmI agree. The government food dictocrats are just bought out by big agriculture anyway. It’s nasty some of the things that they do to good, wholesome milk in order to give you nasty 1% “milk”.
I teach my kids at home, and we rarely have french fries, although I sometimes will cut up a whole potato and cook it in a little butter for dinner. While some of these regulations might make sense, people’s nutritional needs are different, and not all of what they’re trying to regulate makes sense if you ignore what the food industry wants you to think.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:19amThis whole thing about milk is a joke. 1% milk is like water colored white by titanium dioxide. Next thing you know, the Feds will be regulating the milk of nursing mothers.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:18amI think the new guidelines are a great way to get a handle on the problem of childhood obesity – these lunches sound more like what we had when I was in school. I was shocked the first time I ate with my kids and realized that they could get French fries and other junk foods that we could never get when I was growing up. They are not making your kids eat what they serve – you can still pack their lunches. Think positive about the situation! http://wp.me/pYLB7-w1
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 11:39amI agree with you on this. :-)
Report Post »orcainohio
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:17amMore centralized top-down orders from the big all knowing government. soon they will tell our children which hand to wipe thier butts with.
Report Post »mike4400
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:13amIf Parents would take the time to Pack lunch for their children they would have control over what their children eat for lunch. Otherwise the Government controls it.
Report Post »jedi.kep
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:12amI’m glad to see some regulation of what is offered to these kids. For years in our school, the kids were ‘offered’ healthy choices along side of pizza and fries. If you are a kid, you gonna get the mystery meat or the pizza? Kids usually can’t make the healthy choice. If you take away the junk, and leave only healthy food choices they will eat what is there. Works in my home.
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:09amDont forget, this lunch must be union made, grown and delivered to these childeren, or trolls, as the libs like to create!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:09amExcuse me, but I forgot to add, better not to trust whatever chemicals and additives will be put into our kids’ foods that the government controls…..easier to manipulate the masses if they are drugged, right? The kids’ minds as far as being able to think on their own, research and find the answers ON THEIR OWN without immediate “help” from whatever is available on the Inet (which the gov’t. now want to control…like children’s stories being rewritten), sorta leaves us with human robots anyway, does it not? One more generation under the gov‘t’s control, and it could be all over… Carry your own lunches, kids!!! Get some REAL BOOKS while you still can….
Report Post »Andy912
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:08amwhy not just get rid of the whole school lunch program, and have the the parents be more responsible and make lunches for there kids to bring to school.
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:05amHow about we get rid of the Departments of Education and Agriculture. The school lunch program can go with it. Parents can pack their kids lunches and feed them what they want. Problem solved and billions cut from the Federal budget. Then we can start on eliminating the next 10 departments and agencies that need to go away.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:09am@CYKONAS Good ideas!
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:16amNo, you can‘t pack your own child’s lunch. Wasn‘t there a story a few months ago where a teacher took away a kid’s snack because it ‘wasn’t healthy’?
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:41amThat was in a private school. I would yank my kid out of that den of tree-hugging liberals so quick…
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:03amFine….kids, take your own lunches to school like we used to do BEFORE there were school cafeterias.
Report Post »Metalist
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:33amI agree 100%. Pack a lunch, people. Problem solved, no big government involvement required.
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:10amYou know they probably got some kind of law in the works to prevent kids from bringing their own lunches. It’s only a matter of time before that happens.
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 2:57ami forget where it was but there was a story last month where a kid was suspended for bringing unhealthy food to school that her parents made. the nanny state gets bigger every day
Report Post »SecretPolice
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:01amBread and water should sufice.
Report Post »SusansSS
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:07amHow about we get their faces out of the books for an hour a day and let them run and play as God intended them to do!
Report Post »SecretPolice
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:21amCertainly good for the soul as well as the body & mind.
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 7:59amJust do as we plan to do. Bring lunch to your child! Pizza, Freedom Fries, Cup Cakes whatever Obama feeds his kids on vacation. Almost forgot Cheese Burgers big fat ones………………….
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 1:32pmI keep hearing from they how FAT kids are .. well maybe if they weren’t feeding them breakfast, lunch and at some schools now (I kid you not ) DINNER. … not to mention that some parents are getting FOOD STAMPS to FEED these kids … maybe they should STOP feeding them … and let the parents be responsible.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 11:10amDon’t forget we now feed them year round at most public schools, run the bus year round to make sure the get lunch and all those union workers are employed year round.
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 7:51amHow about we shorten the schoolday, give them only three weeks off in the summer, and let them eat lunch at home. They’ll be better able to concentrate during a shorter school day and have more energy so they can run home and get for lunch what they had for breakfast- a can of soda and bag of chips!
Report Post »jeffro314
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:09amspeaking from a 2 working parent household – that would be inconvenient… they need to cut taxes enough so one of us can stay home (which would be good – but as unlikely as your suggestion…)
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:09amThe kids will soon learn first hand how the government wants to control them. This will backfire against the progressives who seek such top down control.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:12amThey actually believe they need to educate the kids on nutrition so the kids go home and teach the parents. We parents are sooo stupid. I mean some of us actually have conservative views. In their eyes we require re-education on a variety of beliefs and how we raise our children.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:16amThe NANNY STATE is running a muck. Just a sample of how Obama will govern the next two years. REGULATIONS not legislation.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:19amHey heres a more reasonable solution. HOW ABOUT WE REDUSE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT. YEP THATS RIGHT LAY OFFS, Im sure over ten years that would save the taxpayers alot of grief and stress. No Obamacare needed for that solution.
Report Post »captaincrunch
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:21amI blame the parents for the poor diet of the fat kids in this country. I am sick and tired of our “Social Responsability Crap” coming from the clowns in DC and having to pay $$$$ for other peoples problems.
Im tired of paying the tax money to feed kids that the parents should feed. One of the problems is with Illegal Aliens and feeding thier “achor babies”. Illegal Aliens are too busy working hard to pay for a $2000 set of wheels for the $1000 car that they drive and not spending the money on wholesome food for three meals a day. Instead the tax payers get to pay for it…..
We are mirroring the Roman Empire during its last days!
shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:31amWhy is the USDA involved in Broadband projects????
Report Post »From a commen sense standpoint wouldn’t broadband projects be in the Dept of FCC
They shuffle taxpayers money around to hide behind there socialistic redistribution scheme.
grandmaof5
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:37amJEFFR013, think there was a bit of sarcasm in RON’S comment.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:42amUSDA – Overview of American Recovery Investment ACT: THESE NUMBERS WILL BLOW YOUR MIND;
1) Rual Community Developement $25,505,000,000 (Billion)
2) Farm Investments $1,169,867,000,000 (Billion)
3) USDA Infrastructure $272,000,000 (Million)
4) Nutrition Assistance $20,888,000,000 (Billion)
5) Conservation & Forestry $1,490,000,000 (Billion)
KEEP IN MIND THIS IS ONE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT BENEFITED FROM THE SO CALLED STIMULAS BILL, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS CLOSER TO 860 BILLION NOT 780 WHAT THEY SOLD TO AMERICANS. No wonder this country has one foot on the sidewalk and the other one in the gutter.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:50amThe fourth branch of government, the bureaucracy, attempts to extend its control over the individual. The bureaucrat, backed by real or implied physical force, is grabbing another piece of your liberty.
Report Post »THROW THE RASCALS OUT! http://commonsense21c.com/
shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:03am• Increase whole grains substantially. Currently, there is no requirement regarding whole grains, but the proposed rules require that half of grains served must be whole grains
HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU INCREASE WHOLE GRAIN CONSUMPTION WHEN THE DAYUM FEDS TAKING A LARGE CHUNK OF CORN FOR THERE OVERPRICED CORN ETHENOL. Or paying farmers not to grow…Better known as Farm Subsidy’s.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:23am2011 Funding Overview
USDA’s budget authority totals approximately $149 billion in 2011. The 2011 discretionary
level is below the 2010 level and funds the Administration’s most important priorities. The
decrease is primarily due to reductions in one-time funding such as earmarks, supplementals,
rescissions, and targeted program reductions. The mandatory budget authority increases above
2010 are due primarily to an anticipated increase in nutrition assistance program participation,
and the impact of the Recovery Act on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food
costs, and crop assistance.
FY 2008 BUDGET $93 BILLION
Report Post »FY 2009 BUDGET $128 BILLION
FY 2010 BUDGET $135 BILLION
FY 2011 BUDGET $149 BILLION
THATS AN INCREASE IN $52 BILLION IN 4YRS….WOW MIND BLOWING
THESE NUMBERS CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE USDA WEB SITE.
shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:36amThe USDA’s new regulations do not require congressional approval to take effect and, when finalized, schools will be required to meet the standards to qualify for government reimbursement on school meals<———————THIS JUST MEANS THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ABUSING HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS…Oh I fogot dumb me We The People dont count.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:08amcaptaincrunch
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:21am
I blame the parents for the poor diet of the fat kids in this country. I am sick and tired of our “Social Responsability Crap” coming from the clowns in DC and having to pay $$$$ for other peoples problems.
Im tired of paying the tax money to feed kids that the parents should feed. One of the problems is with Illegal Aliens and feeding thier “achor babies”. Illegal Aliens are too busy working hard to pay for a $2000 set of wheels for the $1000 car that they drive and not spending the money on wholesome food for three meals a day. Instead the tax payers get to pay for it…..
We are mirroring the Roman Empire during its last days
@Captaincrunch in total agreement, but let extend on your comment about $1000 car with $2000 rims.
Report Post »Have a friend thats a postal worker. Remember the free government cell phones? He said when the program started he was delivering about 2 a week, since he delivers mail in a low income area he said once the word got out it absolutly exploded. He said a few have $40-50 thousand $$ vehicles in there driveways but yet get a Government Free Cell PHONE…Go Figure, another tax payer expense.
trolltrainer
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:37amI actually have no problem with this one! Look, it is the government that is serving the food, they should serve good, nutritious food. What I have a problem with are the schools that regulate what kind of foods the kids can bring from home. If I do not like what the school serves my kids then I can supply them with what I want them to eat…Even a big mac and fries if i choose.
But any governmental institutions have the right…maybe even the DUTY…to serve good food.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:38amIt will be a real waste of money when all the healthy food ends up in the garbage can.
mimitweetin
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 10:48amTHANK GOD only 6 months left of this BS for me. Woo Hoo!
Report Post »encinom
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 11:09am@jeffro314 Given that taxes are below Clinton levels, it has nothing to due with taxes and everything to do with the fact that there are less and less unions fighting for workers rights including fair wages.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 11:44amWhere in the Constitution is the Federal government empowered to dictate ANYTHING to local schools, dietary, curriculum or otherwise? Which article and section is that particular power cited please?
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 11:50amConstitution? Since when do we go by THAT old piece of paper? :-/
The Dept. of Ed. now oversees the schools. Until that changes…
That article on the Kinder egg really has me going today that was a great reply you made to the Canadian guy who said we are now 9th in free market compared to their 6th. That really depresses me…
Report Post »nothingbuthetruth
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 12:22pmMy kid buys his lunch sometimes with money I work for.
Report Post »Hey government is in our laundry detergent, light bulbs, appliances and soon to be our rectal exams.
anOpinion
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 1:24pmI don’t understand any of you opposing this, its laughable you equate a school lunch menu with freedom. If the school dictated what was in a bag lunch your brought to school then you’d have an issue.
The school has to provide a menu of food, but not every food on the planet. Why should fries, chicken nuggets and ice cream be on the menu everyday? Is not supplying it interfering with someones freedom? What if my kid wants lobster and seaweed everyday, are they trampling ours freedoms by not supplying it?
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 2:34pmReduce sodium in meals over the next 10 years I am all for reducing Sodium
Report Post »and how about reducing the Sodium Fluoride in their water ?
and maybe we can reduce the MSG,Aspartame,GMO foods of any kind,
use only Mercury free vaccines. and No more High Fructose corn syrup laced food ?
Goobergregory
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 2:40pmI wonder if there will be a trash can cop. Bet more of the stuff they try to get the kids to eat ends up there. I would like for them to have to account for the garbage and waste after inplementing these standards. Bet they will find it does not work. Kids won’t eat carrots and peas and squash if they think they can hide or throw it away and I am not too keen on having a lunch attendant forcing children to “eat your vegatables or ELSE” … Not gonna fly… Better luck next time. Oh, but I will say for the inner city kids for whom this is their main meal of the day, they DO stand a chance… Put your thumb on the weakest to resist first.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 3:10pmI am all for ENDING school lunches.. let them bring lunch from home.. Those that get FOOD STAMPS are GIVEN money to spend on their kids lunches already.. and those that aren’t most likely send lunch with their kids already.. I know I did.. at BOTH times when I was down, I got food stamps (not a pleasant experience) .. however.. I MADE my kids lunches.. (they wouldn’t eat the garbage they served them).. we didn’t have money either when I was down or got back on my feet for CHIPS, SODA etc.. I will tell you this those that get FOOD STAMPS get MORE money to spend on FOOD than an average family not on food stamps spends…they also buy MORE convenience foods.. such as premade cookies rather than the ingredients to MAKE cookie (and other things).. t.v. dinners rather than meat, potatoes (or rice, pasta) and veggies..the buy sugar cereals rather than plain ones, flavored oatmeal rather than plain etc.. things many working families can’t afford..the reason kids are so FAT is they have LAZY or uneducated parents who can’t cook
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 4:28pmIf we defunded all public education this wouldn’t be a problem, after all, public education must be total crap, or the only idiots that would have voted for Obama would have been him and his ugly wife.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 4:58pmPhase One:Kids in school during lunch.
Report Post »Phase Two: Heavily regulate, tax, or eliminate all foods marketed to children, because they can’t be allowed to eat those things when not under school supervision.
Phase Three: Heavily regulate, tax, or eliminate ALL unhealthy foods offered at resturaunts. Since people can’t control what is in them, the Government will. And since kids can’t have them, they need to make sure it doesn’t happen by “accident”.
Phase Four: Heavily regulate, tax, or eliminate unhealthy foods in every grocery store, convenience store, or other retail outlet in the country. Since we can’t trust parents to keep banned foods away from thier children, they need to be removed from any availability.
You see, it’s not about you, it’s about the children.We’re the Government – we’re here to protect your children. Besides, you don’t want the deaths on innocent children on your concience just because you want to still be able to buy your twinkies, do you?
avenger
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 6:30pmhow about they bring their frigging lunch….
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:39pmdont they have a salt and transfat police in N.Y. now? soon they will be arresting and or fining parents for having fat children. the thing is i see more fat progressives than conservatives, may this come back to slap them in the face like a boomerang!!!
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:08pmI am excited. Now we can hire a bunch off USDA inspectors to go to the schools and enforce the new rules. HooRay!!! Expansion of the agency will result in expansion of the federal government payroll. Just what we need. More payroll for the taxpayers to support.
Note to the Congress, Senate and especially the USDA: We want less, not more! Stop this crap.
If you want skinnier kids, tell their parents to turn of the video games and the TV, take away the snacks and make the kids go out and play! It worked for my kids!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 9:43pmWhat the measure does not do is prevent you from sending your kid to school with one pound of lard and one cup of sugar and a Twinkie for dessert. Go for it America!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 9:47amThis is called SPREAD THE WEALTH
Report Post »The new focus on fruits and veggies are the fruits and veggies the US BUYS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES….more imports….more money going to other countries like Mexico and India
Apparently the US cannot grow enough fruits and veggies anymore …we need to make sure the money goes out of our country.
mill
Posted on January 14, 2011 at 5:42pmThe school meal is one of th eonly meals some of the kids get…
I see a lot of junk served in the past. Today at my daughter’s high school, the things offered are pretty good. The kids throw most of it away though. They eat the pizza, fries, chips, salad , fruit, veggies are usually first in the trash.
The kids need to be educated , the lunches nutritious, and something the kids will eat. No vending machines. OMG, we made it through with no vending machines of any sort!
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