I’m blogging anonymously because I like my job and getting a paycheck. But I’m still putting my livelihood on the line by speaking up. Why? Because I want to raise awareness about school lunch. It may not be what every child in this country eats, but I believe the meal that I am showing represents what most children eat at lunch in the US.
This issue is important now because the Child Nutrition Act is being reauthorized and debated in Congress right now. I realize that everyone is strapped for cash right now. Individuals, companies, states, and countries are losing money. No matter what is going on in this world, we can’t forget the kids and the fact that many of them are at the mercy of school districts and corporations for their daily meal(s). It will cost the US more money in the future (healthcare costs) if schools don’t address the big problem that is staring them in the face everyday: childhood obesity. No matter how great a school is, it can’t control what the kids eat outside of school. But still schools can do better for kids while they are in building.
People say “school lunches have always been bad.” But actually I think in a lot of places they have gotten worse as far as quality and variety are concerned. Considering all of the powerful health, wellness, and nutrition research that has come out over the past thirty years, school lunches have not kept up with the latest medical advice.
I’ve been very stressed out about this project recently. I really love my school, the principal and the lunch manager a lot. I respect them. The principal is fair and is a strong leader. The lunch manager is kind to me and to the kids. And then I go home and do this with my limited spare time. I feel a lot of guilt and turmoil about what I’m doing here. I’m waiting for the moment I’m called to the principal’s office and let go. I do believe it’s a matter of “when” not “if” they both find out and it’s curtains for me and then of course the project. I want them to know that the project is not about individuals in one school, but about a country full of children who need better food models.
I’m getting a lot of requests for interviews from major newspapers and other news outlets (I have done other interviews for media with smaller distribution and/or all online). Many assure me of my anonymity, but if I get major attention even without my real name, well, someone is going to put 2 + 2 together. All that is needed is one person sending one email to all lunch room managers and asking, “Who’s eating school lunch every day?” Then they get a short list …and I’ll be carrying a cardboard box to my car.
My husband says, “You’re paranoid! Stop it.” But in a subsequent discussion he said, “You’re not going to lose your job, are you?”
Sweetie, when I decided to do this blog, even though I thought I would not get a comment for a few months (it took just a few days) and that I thought maybe in a few months I might get 5-10 hits per week (I’m averaging 1,000 to 4,000 per day)…. well, it’s not looking good. I’m just hoping to finish out the school year…
Hello – a friend of mine referred your blog to me, and I have been a big activist for school lunch reform for almost two years. I maintain a blog with resources for nutrition through whole, traditional foods, food activism, natural remedies, and issues of sustainability in the food system. I believe with every part of my being that you are doing the right thing. And I hope you don't stop. You may or may not be putting your job on the line – it really depends on many factors, one of those being what type of people you work with at your school. You may think they seem to be fair and good people, but when things hit the fan, you often see people's true nature revealed. The subject is a very touchy one, and when I was organizing at my son's school just a little over a year ago to bring "Two Angry Moms" to our city, there were a lot of people who I know were none too happy with what I was doing. Some of them worked in the lunchroom at our school, and others were just random people throughout our city.
I actually had the owner of a coffee business threaten to call his attorney if I didn't stop making "harassing statements" about him while I was in his office talking to his office staff and him about putting fliers up in the coffee shop for the film. I said nothing defamatory or criticizing, he was just a hot head. Needless to say, he did not like what I was doing at all. For some reason, food and diet is one of the most inflammatory topics you can bring up; it gets people more riled up than religion.
He repeatedly made reference to the "crazy liberals" and how they "inflict physical education" programs on children in schools, and how it shouldn't be part of the curriculum. I reminded him that many programs in our city had been cut for phys ed funding, but he wouldn't listen to me. Clearly he didn't really know much about what was going on.
But many parents were glad that I was doing something. It made me wonder, though, if they were really behind what I was doing, why didn't they actually do something about their talk and take some action. I heard a lot of, "I'm so glad you're doing this" and "this is such a problem". Yeah? Yet people persisted in sending their children into the lunchroom every day and allowed them to eat the garbage being served there. I served on a committee where we presented our findings to the State Superintendent of schools, the head dietitian, and all the other staff about the toxic ingredients contained within the food and the hazardous health effects it had on human health. Most of them barely batted an eye at our startling presentation, and maintained after this event and the film we showed to less than 60 people in attendance that the Boise School District would continue to serve nutritious lunches to the children. It's clear that an overhaul is going to have to take place, but it's going to take more than just a few parents and teachers making waves with films, presentations, web sites, and even Congress revising the Child Nutrition Act. But please, know that you are doing the right thing and should keep going. I commend you and your efforts.
Here is my web site and one of the articles I wrote about the school lunch issue:
http://www.agriculturesociety.com/?p=1007
Hold onto the outrage that got you started on this project. That will see you through the fear and misgivings. You are doing something creative and brave and you are educating a lot of people. You are a true teacher. Sally forth, Ms. Q!
I'm sorry that I have not been following this whole endeavor. Or, maybe not.
Why hasn't anyone addressed the question as to why it is MY responsibility [via taxes] to feed all of these school children every day?
When I went to school we could buy school lunch or we could pack a lunch. The menu was sent home for the month at the beginning of each month. That way we knew what was being served. It was a choice. The only kids that got free school lunch were a very short list, then.
No. I am not worried about what is being served for lunch in public schools. I am much, much more worried about why I have to PAY for it! You decide to have children, you need to find a way to pay for them. It is not the responsibility of all of us taxpayers to do so.
I will get hate mail, no doubt, for being so insensitive, or something. It has nothing to do with being insensitive. It has to do with responsibility.
Now, if you will excuse me, I'm heading back to my private villa pool here in Bali where we are vacationing. If I have to continue to pay – in the form of big taxes – for school lunches we may not be able to afford this vacation again.
Oh, I'd never thought of this 🙁
Wishing you well.
Sabra – I believe it is the RESPONSIBILITY of everyone to support the foundations of our nation, which include taxes that support the future of that nation – our children – who will be in charge of the world someday, and your future. Even if you are not a parent, there are certain structures in place which benefit all citizens, and we should all contribute to those conventions. Perhaps you'd be willing to stop drawing social security (if you are drawing it) or be willing to forfeit your share of it once you are eligible?
Probably best to consult with a professional since you are concerned. Then you would know for sure and can make an informed decision instead of continuing to worry without knowing the facts.
Could you work to promote your opinions without using photos from your school, if that is part of your concern? There is a lot of information about the current regulations you could share, conversation about the changes that you want, and how to acheive those changes.
You really hit the nail on the head with this post. Exposing the problems and challenges facing schools to create healthy and tasteful meals is a huge burden. Many people most close to schools just don't want to reveal the realities of the school cafeteria. I've written a bit on school nutrition/food policy on my own blog: http://veritashealth.blogspot.com
But — if in some terrible turn of events you do lose your job at this school, I think you may have reason to pursue a new calling in life: school food consultant! (…or at least write a book!)
A few suggestions.
You may want to consult with a union representative on this issue. Are you tenured? Makes a world of difference in keeping your job.
The blog is interesting – I'm not sure that the school district can change it's ways after being locked into some kind of contract for cardboard food, but they won't even try if there is not some kind of protest…
Welcome to our world. (Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD blog) Speaking out is risky. But it is so very important. It is why some of our parents are anonymous – they have kids in school and they know if they use their name their child will be targeted.
If you speak out about an issue in our school district, say at a meeting, a school administrator gets your name and school. The next day you get a phone call to come into the principal's office for a "chat", or your child gets called into the principal's office and admonished for their parent speaking out.
Check out the end of this interview from Friday (2/19/10) – a parent has a concern about a teacher. Our Superintendent says "call my office tomorrow" and the interviewer asks for the name of the school. What do you think is going to happen on Monday? Instead of looking at the issue as a system wide concern the individuals will be targeted. http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=44591
Your blog is excellent and will, in the end, teach your students so much about advocacy and speaking out that will be a greater lesson than anything else they learn in school.
Take a look at the advocacy by a group of students in one community to get rid of styrofoam trays in their lunchroom. Just one issue at one of our schools and the school system is fighting them! Even when the kids already raised $10,000 to pay for dishwasher and other expenses! The Board of Education won't even bring this up at a public meeting!
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2009/10/ill-fight-you-all-way.html
When you combine your voice with all the other voices in the country seeking changes in our public schools, you become part of a much larger effort. We have linked your blog to our blog.
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2010/02/fed-up-school-lunch-project.html
I will leave you with this quote:
"Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted, when we tolerate what we know to be wrong, when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy or too frightened, when we fail to speak up and speak out, we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice." — Robert F. Kennedy
if you're that afraid about losing your job, maybe you should can the commentary and just post photos and fact. Let readers draw conclusions regarding quality and nutrition. In fact, unless you're a health teacher, even still, an elementary school health teacher, you're probably not qualified to make a substantial commentary on nutrition.
I find it humorous that people take a good project and then don't think through it, and chose to post a white-knight whine post about how they're a martyr and may get in trouble.
If you're interested in making some sort of significant social impact, align the facts and tools for qualified persons or readers to make conclusions.
Oh, and Mrs. Q, do know that the vendors that supply these foods, and the administrators making these buying decisions are reading this blog and will comment.
They will probably comment as anonymous "parents".
If you can, check the IP addresses to see who is reading the blog.
In our school system the administration tried to plant a fake parent, even used a fake name. But an alert reader noted the IP address belonged to the school system. As soon as the fake attack campaign was outed the person apologized and disappeared. Oh, they are still reading our blog, but they don't comment from that computer location anymore. Now they comment from their home computers.
Just keep that in mind when you get odd, off topic or personal comments.
I am also a teacher who has posted comments here before. My husband does not think there would be legitimate grounds to fire you. There are whistle-blower laws (not that you are really doing that) and you are under contract. He also keeps saying UNION. Maybe, if you aren't a member of the union, you should be. Even if you don't agree with unions or the politics that they espouse, the legal representation that they will put behind you if you are fired is immense and part of your dues. And they would certainly get behind you on this!
I moved to Ohio and was appalled by the lunches the schools serve here. I took my complaint to the state. I was told that they felt there was nothing wrong with the lunches since they were found to have balanced nutrition. It's not. The meal alternative is PB&J. I went to have lunch over there just to see, the PB&J was positively paleolithic. It looked like it had sat in the fridge for weeks. *sigh* I have tried and tried but no one is listening. They raised the school lunch prices this year too without any improvement.
I can understand your worry…. but I think the fact that we don't know what school or city your are in will help you…
Whenever issues have come up in my district it was because people used their real name, name of school, etc
Good Luck
SheilaC
Thought you would find this article interesting.
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?ID=96157
Are you in a charter school? (Don't answer that, I don't want to give you away.) If not, I don't see how you could be fired, at least without a protracted fight. I know New York State, where I am, has strong labor laws, but I thought Illinois did too, especially for teachers.
I work a job where I am required eat in a HS cafeteria. I discovered I MUST prepare my own lunch, or I can't maintain a healthy weight. For many children who have to eat lunch at school because a parent cannot or will not prepare a lunch, the empty calories represent a promise we as adults and taxpayers are not fulfilling. Thanks for taking pictures– I would, but who wants to look at Little Smokies served with a side of popcorn chicken and nachos (an actual meal)?
Your stress level about this is likely related to your IBS.
I don't think the school would want to fire you, and the parents would support your exposing an egregious "nutrition" program for students. The ones who would be after you are the food industry. Schools are not making money off of what is served in the cafeteria… the food industry is. Keep bringing awareness to this issue, and stay anonymous. As soon as you reveal yourself, the very powerful lobbies of this nation's food industry will shut you down.
What you're doing with this project is so important for schoolkids nation-wide. I can only think that if you do lose your job, it's because something better will open up soon after.
You could ask other schoolteachers from other schools to guest post with photos and stories from a week in lunches at their school, for example.
I can understand your fear of being fired. Just because something isn't fair, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It's not fair to feed kids junk under the guise of good nutrition, but it obviously happens.
It seems that your drive to make sure kids get a better school lunch is important to you, because you've continued to blog, despite your fears. You haven't given any identifying information about yourself, or your school. On what grounds could they possibly fire you? Blogging about what could just as easily be a hypothetical school lunch? Doubtful.
You're doing good work here.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that school food is crap.
I don't understand why people can't make a damn lunch for their kids. "Oh I don't have TIME" they whine. My mom raised 4 kids and worked full time, and sent every one of us to school with our lunch every day. Every night for dinner, she made enough extra that we had leftovers for lunch the next day. It took no extra time. Granted we hated it… we wanted the cafeteria pizza and burgers… but what we had was far better for us.
I use to work in several low socioeconomic schools…about 85% free and reduced lunch. I had to monitor the lunch rooms. My favorite was the tatter tots and mash potato day. How can they serve 2 potatoes in one meal? They considered the potatoes to be 2 veggies. Also about 40% of the food ended up in the trash. What a waste. I asked why they gave the kids so much food and they said that the students need to eat per meal at least 2000 cals, because most students only ate one meal a day. Very rarely did they served fresh food…it was mostly processed food. I would never let my kid eat school lunches…
Why do you believe the schools should feed kids at all? Now every child in the country is born with the right to have a delicious, nutritional lunch? Who pays for the government to take responsibility for every aspect of your life that you are incapable of doing yourself? Can't you see that the more the government gets involved in anything the less motivation there will be for all of us to stand up on our own two feet?
I serve my kids chicken fajitas (wraps with chicken, onions and green peppers with a small amount of fat free cheese) Great substitution for grilled cheese sandwiches in the lunch room!I love this blog! 🙂 I am so glad this is being addressed. Back during my school days, you couldn't even identify the foods being offered.
I'd like to see the school offer more fruits and veggies too.
My children are all grown up they are fit and healthy. I am horrified when I watch children get off the school bus; most roll out of the bus and waddle to their mother's awaiting cars. And the government thinks they have improved matters by banishing soda from schools! The entire cafeteria should be banned. Aren't most cafeterias run by a person with a degreee in nutrition? What are they thinking! Keep up the good work…someone has got to do it! I feel your pain…tater tots! Geez.
Good Luck with your investigation! My kids are not allowed to eat school lunch except for bean & cheese burrito day. I am a firm believer in the idea that wholesome, nutritious, unprocessed foods are the cornerstone of a happy healthy life. If more people could/would choose whole foods over fast foods our nation would be much healthier and our health costs lower. Thank you for your bravery.
Ummm, I've been eating school lunches for the last 11 years. It's part of our contract that we get free lunches. And we don't get anything different than the kids do.
My hat's off to you! They have a couple of occasions annually at my daughter's school where the parents can come and eat breakfast with their kids before the beginning of the school day. She's a 3rd grader and I've attended every year so far. I have a difficult time eating some of the stuff on the tray! And I'm NOT a picky eater! Best of luck to you in your quest of providing our children with the proper nutrition they deserve! God bless ya, Mrs. Q!!!
YOu know what? i believe you are gonna make a difference with this. and honestly i dont think youll lose your job as an educator because trust me you have thousands of concerned Americans who have your back just like i do. I believe in the freedom of speech and i believe that as an american we have to speak up. we are the voice of children for they have no voice to be heard. we as educators(future educator for me) have to be the voice of the children and help the battle this obesity bug. We do need more healthy lunches in America!! and as for your job, you wont lose it for being a responsible and caring educator. We the American people will defend you!!! lesliemarq528@yahoo.com
– Future educator that will one day teach the future of America, children.
I'm from Illinois and my sister is a kindergarten teacher in a public school district in Illinois. I have worked in higher education for more than a decade, where faculty typically have a great deal more freedom and power within the institution. I get exactly why you are concerned about your job.
You should continue anonymously. Mix up the days. And live by the old adage, "hope for the best, but expect the worst."
You have a lot of recourse if you want to keep your job, should you be pressured to resign or outright fired. But you may find that if you do lose your job, you may be able to create a strategic and graceful professional opportunity out of the whole experience. You may find that you can tackle this issue head-on, out in the open.
The worst-case-scenario might be the best thing that ever happened to you (and our kids' school lunches).
Best of luck! Keep going!
I remember school lunches and breakfasts. I couldn't eat those baked eggs, yuk.
I live in Santa Monica now. I guess we're lucky as far as lunches go. There was a huge parent uprising and they ended up with the fruit and salad bar coming from our local farmers' market. It's a more affordable and significantly healthier alternative to burgers or pizza, I think it costs $1.50 Now if I could only get my son to eat it. My daughter loves it and frequently has that go along with something she's brought from home.
My daughter gets free lunches everyday so I let her eat there although I wonder how much of it she eats as she is a slow eater. I used to take her to breakfast everyday but she didn t want to go anymore and couldn t eat fast enough. I did not like the breakfast anyway. Everyday it is sugary cereal with milk and juice. On Fridays they get something else maybe graham cookies, or a waffle in a plastic bag, once in a while eggs. but only on Friday every other day just sugary cereal and no fruit.
I've been a teacher for 33 years . . . and I ate school lunches for 4 of the past 5 years; during that time I put on 10 pounds and my blood pressure shot through the roof. I've since gone back onto my own "bring it from home" diet, and am slowing bringing my health back from the brink of disaster. . . no more blood pressure medication and no more acid reflux. Amen to your efforts to change what we put onto kids' plates at school!
I think what your doing is great! I have a 6 year old who I allow to buy a school lunch once a week, purely because its fun for her. I know she is eating…well…lets just say, its not as healthy as the food I buy! I buy all organic, natural foods for my family and limit junk food for special occasions. The biggest gift I can give my child is good nutrition. Its great they serve veggies and fruit at school. But how about better quality meat and whole grains? There are some children who get their only meals at school…lets give them something healthier! My huband and I bought a school lunch with our daughter on her first day (parents stayed for a few hours) and it was hard to get down. I can't imagine eating it everyday! But I think your doing an awesome thing! I am so glad I found this blog. If you get "caught" it will only be a postive thing. Because then you can make a real stand against school lunches. May God Bless you and this journey!
I grew up eating DISD food every school day. I am 31 now and healthy. I am a firm believer that a person, even a child, determines what attempt they will make in leading a healthy life. At the end of the school day your child, my child or any other child has the option of playing outside or sitting in front of the TV and playing electronic games. The pictures you have posted here do look like terrible lunches. The lunch in DISD looks much better. I do not know about health wise but taste is good. Like you I pack a lunch for the kids everyday. The lunch consist of a ham or turkey sandwich, yogurt and juice. Except for Tuesday when DISD is offering Fiesta salad for lunch. The kids love it so they buy that day. I do not pack their lunch because I think its healthier I do it because its cheaper. Also, when they come home I make sure they have shores to do and get in some physical play time. I guess my point is we should look at physical activity not just food intake.
How can we as parents help with this noble fight. I cringe everytime I read the monthly calendar my daughter brings home. The menu is loaded with the most non-nutritious foods there are. I have had the displeasure of joining her for lunch once and could not eat the food they were serving. The soup was so salty, I couldn't stand it. As for the "toasted cheese". I think it was two pieces of white bread with a slice of cheese in the middle, microwaved. After that experience, I decided to take control and started packing her lunch. I still believe something should be done about the nutrition factor, we have so many overweight and obese children today.
Any suggestions as to how I would start this "adventure" with my daughter's school?
… do what you want to do. i pack my kids lunch and he trades it for school cinnabons…
First is first, and you are doing an awesome job! We live in the United States of America, where things change when we come together to take a stand. I agree with a lot of the bloggers, getting you fired would only make your school look bad. With what you are doing, I as a parent would be so relief and honor that my child should have you as a teacher. You are what real teachers are made of. Now a days we intrust our kids and those precious 35 hrs a week to the teachers and some are just there for a paycheck. How sad. I worry because in a why teachers get to spend more time with my kids than I do during the week. So I expect only the best. And you are one of the few.
I am attaching a link that every parent should see, this is as clear as it can get. Mrs. Q, one word comes to mind when I think of you…Vanguard!
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jamie_oliver.html
That food reminds me of the line on Blazing Saddles "The food's brown, hot and there's plenty of it! Come and get it"
Thank you so much for addressing this issue. I constantly have discussions/arguements regarding just what is a healthy lunch for the students. An Uncrustable somehow meets the guidlines but is one of the worst items on our menu. They recently added Chef's Salads and other type sof salads that are made fresh so it is a step in the right direction. But as well as that seems we also received Whole Grain Pop Tarts with Frosting so this issue is never ending. Thank you again for speaking out..I too work at a school…
I grew up in Alabama and had awesome school lunches. My high shool (Jacksonville High) had a ice cream bar, salad bar, hot food everyday, a chocolate milk machine, and a juice machine. I graduated in 93, don't know what they get these days. I am a middle school teacher now and the picture you show are so similar to my school. I do enjoy the nachos, but it is all garbage. Gut luck and hope your tummy feels better.
I am a prekindergarten teacher in a public school in Texas. I eat the school lunch often. Due to my busy schedule. (no time to make my own lunch :)). I commend you and encourage you to keep going. The food has to change. I agree with you a hundred percent! I know I could easily bring in my own lunch so i'm not complaining too much about our food. but it could definitely and should be more healthy. The portions are tiny even for a child and the time the children have to eat is not enough! Thank you for what you are doing!
I think what you're doing is awesome! I'm a student, and every day I have to eat food that goes straight from the freezer to the deep fryer to my tray! It's ridiculous! They don't even provide vegetables most of the time. And their reasoning for feeding us gross, fried food is that we "won't eat anything else". I think that this is a great way to draw attention to the terrible food that some of us are forced to eat daily.
Hello, I am also a school teacher, originally from NY. I have taught in Arkansas, and North Carolina, and have seen the horrors of public school lunches. Some of the food these children eat, I wouldn't allow my dog to eat. Recently I have moved to Bogota Colombia, where I am teaching at a normal private school, which isn't very different from public schools here. The school lunches here are amazing. My lunch today was fresh squeezed mango juice, but I also had the choice of fresh pear juice. A salad bar, watermelon, and the vegetarian lunch was vege shepherds pie. They also offered soup, and steak with plantain for special diets. It is amazing how a country such as Colombia can find a way to feed their children extremely healthy lunches, while the U.S feeds their students worse than prisoners.
Good Luck, I remember as a k-12 student 20yrs ago it wasn't this bad. you had protein (tiny hamburger, meatloaf, mini wrapped dogs,) and two veggies (usually canned but hay veggies) and milk the good days were mashed potatoes, maybe one Friday a month tater tots and a tiny desert. I did live in a small town but man.
Hello,
I wanted to write you and let you know I do think it is great that you bring attention to this matter however…. I work at a school lunch Cafeteria and I hate the fact that all of the public schools get lumped into one when it comes to lunches. Every day we offer our students 5 entree choices along with fresh fruit and fresh vegges as well as hot vegges sometimes they are canned. We have no soda machines for students. We sell Snack foods also… water milk oj apple juice and Baked chips. We can offer all of the great choices but we can't force the students to eat them. I also think when it comes to school lunches you should take a look at what parents put in their childrens lunches. Good eating habits start at home. The students that eat right at home make and eat the right choices at our school. One more thing you might want to check into… we use to get alot of commodity foods supplied to out schools but the Federal Government has fallen short on that thus the cost of food for our school kitchens is crazy. Many Parents feel that the school lunches should cost next to nothing. I can also tell you that there are a lot of parents that just send their children to school and feel we should just feed them for free. I do feel that statement " you get what you pay for" really means a lot when it comes to school lunches. The bottom line is that many parents don't seem to really care about the school lunch program. I hope you are successful bringing attention to the schools that fall short and fail our students.
I grew up in Illinois and thoroughly enjoyed school lunches all the way through high school. But after viewing your pics I realize that school lunches have either gone WAY downhill or I was at a priviledged public school! I now live in another state and am a teacher myself. Once again, I realize that not all schools follow this suite, but I've taught in schools where you had to pay twice what the kids did for lunch but recieved the same amount of food as the kids. I've also taught in schools where teachers and staff recieve free lunches. Having said that…if we were served what you are, taking the pictures in and shuddering, I would be packing a lunch, too, as well as my children.
I believe you're doing a great thing. After reading numerous comments, I agree with many of then. Seek legal advice for the worst-case scenario and put some faith in God. If all the media and research is accurate and this is the first generation of kids that WILL NOT outlive their parents, then something drastic needs to be done. Kudos to you for being brave enough to start this blog.
I also agree that the member of Congress and perhaps President Obama should feast on school lunches around the country to see for themselves what is being served to the children of today.
I am in complete amazement while I look through the past few photos of the lunches you've been eating! Unfortunately, the amazement isn't due to how disgusting the food is that your school is eating, it is instead due to the greater quality of food they are serving to you and your students as compared to what my young step-son is currently offered at his elementary school in San Diego, CA. I have been completely appalled for the past several years by the low quality of the food he is served and the lack of nutrition the menu items offer. The "breakfast" menu for the week for his elementary school consists of a hot or cold choice; hot being "pancake on a stick" which is a premade battered sausage link with syrup, or a cheese quesadilla for vegetarian students(yes, for BREAKFAST) and cold item being a 90 calorie serving of pre-packaged cheerios or rice krispies that they can have with white or chocolate milk. The students then have their option of visiting the "Fruit Bar" where they have their choice of bulk canned fruit cocktail in heavy syrup, cheezits crackers (yes.. again for breakfast)and the occasional appearance of fresh grapes. Lunches don't fare much better. I have tried to figure out who I can contact or what I can do to make a change to the situation, but keep arriving at dead ends with no results or answers. I've had to resort to packing my step-son's lunch each day to ensure that he is eating properly. If you have any advice for us moms, please share! Thank you again for taking a stand and showing everyone what really goes on in the school cafeterias. 🙂