If you’ve ever wanted the opportunity to tell your family’s food story to a larger audience, here’s your chance. Just so you know, the producers making this film are not “fly-by-night” kinda folks. They make serious films that reveal personal stories with dignity in ways that inspire and educate others. Although I am not in any way involved with this film or any film for that matter, I have to tell you that randomly I had the chance to meet the production team in person last year. It’s a wonderful bunch of people and I think that if your family was chosen, it would be an experience of a lifetime. Here’s the information and keep in mind that time is of the essence:
An Emmy-award-winning team at a highly regarded TV company is looking for subjects for a documentary on childhood obesity. They are hoping to find the family of an overweight middle school or high school student that is concerned about their child’s weight and working to improve the healthfulness and quality of the food available in the school cafeteria, even if the parents and the school district are just getting started on this quest.They would like to speak with interested parents as soon as possible. Please email the producers at [email protected]
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HAAhaA iMM fEDD uPP wITHH sCHOOLL lUNCHESS!!!’
Great info post. I hope these folks find the ‘right’ kid and family for their story.
At 60+ and with significant exposure to “School Lunches,” I can personally verify that they have gone to hell – and some degree of recovery is necessary or there will be no next generation.
From about 1956 on, my student experience with School Lunches was outstanding! Many of the ingredients used were “USDA Surplus” and provided at lottle or no cost. The products were just fine!! The Lunch Ladies were known members of our community, often known as some of the best cooks and fed the students as if we were their own kids! In those days and through the late 60s, my schools saw only freshly prepared foods made from scratch ingredients. The pantry and menu contained ZERO pre-prepared or convenience foods. If we ate pizza once in a long while, it was Lunch Lady Pizza, not something delivered at 1100 from a fast food joint. If sliced bread or rolls were on the menu, the L.L.s made it themselves, and slices/buttered it by hand. It may have been a bit coarse at times, but it tasted like real bread! One 8 Oz. ‘bottle’ of milk was always included and many kids purchased an addition punch card, the Milk Card, to buy an additional 8 Oz. bottle for $0.02. That is not a type-o! Fresh milk was heavily subsidized and could be purchased for TWO CENTS the cup (or Eight cents per quart), far cheaper than the market price. (My mother never allowed any money for sweet treats, but smartly provided Fifty Cents for a new Milk Card whenever requested.) Through five different schools (K-12) I don’t remember a bad lunch and I have fond memories of many that were exceptional. As an example, let’s remember the ordinary potatoes! Mashed or oven-browned potatoes were made from Real, Whole potatoes. At least two of my schools has potato peeling machines. For mashed, they used the big Hobart mixer and poured in the milk. For service, the scoop or disher scooped up a little melted butter before grabbing the often lumpy potatoes. Yes, it was Real Butter and Yes, I still like my mashed potatoes on the lumpy side. I’ve run on enough, but I think you get the picture!
Until ROnald Reagan decided that KETCHUP was a vegetable, school lunches were usually wholesome and tasty food, prepared by Lunch Ladies who might as well have been Mom. For the next kid in line, they WERE Mom!
I enjoy your blog and hope that you will continue posting these important stories and observations. -Craig
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. With 3 school age children, the quality of school lunches is VERY important to our family. When I saw your book on the shelf at my local store, I knew it was a sign that I needed to read your book! It is an inspiring book. Thank you for all you do. I will strongly recommend this book to every parent and educator I know.