School menus
Aside from the hoagie bar and the snack bar I don’t remember what kinds of food my school cafeterias served. To be honest, my eating habits weren’t the best. My middle school lunch came from the vending machines; I ate a Tastykake brownie and a Hawaiian Punch every day. The thought of it makes me ill now. By late high school I started bringing my own lunch which was usually a bagel and some fruit. Not stellar, but better than the brownie.
By the time I started teaching in North Philadelphia something entirely unlikely had happened- I had become a healthy eater. Working in schools I was completely appalled by the daily menus that counted french fries and ketchup as vegetables and served pizza with a side of macaroni and cheese. Working in suburban schools wasn’t much better. Sure they served salads, but the salads were iceberg lettuce drenched in full fat ranch dressing. The students that I kept in for lunch often came to my room with pizza, french fries and a blue drink with a cookie for dessert.
Clearly, most school lunches need an overhaul.
If your child attends Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary schools your child is luckier than most. In addition to the usual fatty, sodium laden cafeteria fare like chicken nuggets and beefaroni, Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools serve a variety of fruits, vegetables and offer both vegetarian and vegan entrees. The school’s menu is clearly marked with allergy information for each individual item as well as the carbohydrate counts for all meals and sides. For parents of children with allergies this menu must be like a gift.
The menu is the most thorough school menu I’ve ever seen and I’ve attended and worked in more than 10 schools in my lifetime. Take a look here.
link via allergymoms.com
What do the lunches in your kids’ cafeterias look like? Do you pack a lunch for your child or give them money to buy one?
school lunches, cafeteria food, food allergies, school menus
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