Tuesday Tirade #1: School Lunches & #@??!!!%%!

I’ve fallen off the blogging bandwagon, but thought I would come back with my first Tuesday Tirade. Ya, I have decided that Tuesdays will be my outlet to bitch about the stuff in the world (my little piece of it) that is bothering me %#@^!!!

The last few weeks have been crazy busy. End of May, the Chic&Cozy was shelved at Target. A huge undertaking and something I am very proud of, but also completely stressed out about (will blog about this later). Coinciding with entering Target came the end of the school year for Asher (1st year of Montessori) and for Tatum, who just finished her first year at the public school in kindergarten. I can’t believe she is a first grader. Gulp. Anyway, I worked very hard this year to make time to volunteer almost every Thursday at Tatum’s school. I came in the morning and stayed until the kids went to lunch. All of Tatum’s classmates call me “Tatum’s mom”, a name that just makes me happy!

yummmm....drumstick?

School has been out a week or so and there has been something bothering me. Here’s my peeve. The thing I don’t get, school lunches. Have you seen what the schools serve elementary school kids? If you haven’t, I took some pictures. Week after week, I would go in and sit with Tatum for part of her lunch (we pack her lunch every day but Friday so she can be “a buyer” and get pizza), and week after week, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what the school served for lunch. We live in a society with obesity on the rise in children. But how can children learn about eating nutritiously when the schools (their educators) give them french fries with a processed chicken nugget (in the shape of a drumstick) for lunch? I don’t think I ever saw anything green, but maybe lime jello, on the trays. What the %##@?! And I know parents are busy, so packing a lunch isn’t for everyone, but children should be served balanced nutritious meals. Right?

I went on a field trip at the end of the school year. The kids needed to bring a bag lunch, so even the buyers had to bring. I was amazed at what some of the parents or caregivers packed for them. One little girl had a ready pack of nachos for lunch (queso cheese & nacho chips). That was it. Another boy, who at just 6 is tipping the scales, had for his lunch: 2 bags of chips (yes 2, not 1), chocolate pudding, a candy bar, sandwich on white bread, high-fructose corn syrup juice drink, and an apple. He ate the pudding first. Guess what he didn’t eat? Why would anyone pack all that junk food for lunch? How can our children be responsible if we are not teaching them well? I just don’t get it. Isn’t that doing a disservice to our children? I don’t believe convenience foods cost less. I know if I buy products in ready packs it actually costs more than if I buy a large bag or jar (for example, a jar of apple sauce is much more cost effective than the individual containers - but ya, the individual containers are easier).

Maybe not as bad? Chilli & tortilla chips?

Now we don’t eat perfectly at our house. Everything in moderation - we have dessert, chips, candy, etc. - sometimes, not every time. I don’t cook dinner every night (ya, talk to my husband, he is lucky if I cook 3x a week ;-), but we try to make healthy choices. I know we should be buying organic,but it is expensive, so I buy organic sometimes. I figure sometimes is better than never.

I know the lunches that schools serve have to be cheaper than fresh quality items, but is it really worth the end result? Children developing diabetes & heart disease? How can we not afford to provide decent food in one of the richest countries in the world? Where are our priorities?

Wow, this was preachy, but seriously…what are we thinking?