Many parents contest the health of the lunches provided by the school their children attend. While meals are required to meet governmental guidelines regarding nutrition, the extra items served and vending machines on campus are not under the same restrictions. Many schools now serve á la carte items in the lunchroom that are eaten in addition to or instead of the meal served. The School Nutrition Association reports that other items not falling under the guidelines include birthday treats and sports games foods.
Requirements
A meal provided by the school, according to the School Nutrition Association, must contain 30 percent or less of its calories from fat with 10 percent or less of that coming from saturated fat. It also must provide at least one-third of the daily requirements for vitamins A and C, iron, calories and calcium. However, parents and health experts don't feel that this is enough. This is evidenced by the fact that the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine reports that only 20 percent of schools met the fat guidelines for the 2004 and 2005 school years. Since schools are not constantly under scrutiny, it is easy for them to fall short.
Recommendations for Schools
Many ways to incorporate healthier foods into your child's lunch exist and are easy to implement and keep up. Many schools are wary of these changes due to costs, but most have discovered that it isn't that much more expensive and the benefits are huge. The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food recommends getting a salad bar, switching to whole grains and whole fruits and vegetables, eliminating fried and processed foods from the menu and offer á la carte items, such as trail mix and fresh fruit bowls instead of french fries, pizza and chips. Getting rid of vending machines is another huge step that schools can take to create healthier lunches for students.
Recommendations for Parents
Making such drastic changes at your child's school will take time and research, and the process requires volunteers and school staff to implement the changes. In the meantime, as a parent, you can be sure your child is getting the most from his school lunch. GreatSchools Inc., a national nonprofit that motivates parents to be more active in their child's education, recommends keeping the school lunch menu on hand so you can determine the healthiest choices with your child. If all else fails, you can always pack your child a healthy lunch to take to school with him. Above all, getting involved with the efforts your child's school is making to create healthier school lunches is one step toward ensuring your child is being provided the right nutrients.
Legislation
As more information is given to parents and schools, the government is making changes as to how school lunches are served. The Healthy School Meals Act of 2010 is being implemented in test schools as a way to determine whether more plant-based meals will have an impact on nutritional intake among students. Schools will be trained and provided with materials to help them get involved with the Act. Many schools have already been making their own policy changes to support healthier meals for children.
References
- Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine: National School Lunch Program Background
- New York Coalition for Healthy School Food: Create Change
- School Nutrition Association: School Meals Proven a Healthy Choice
- Great Schools: Tips to Make School Lunches Healthier
- Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine: The Healthy School Meals Act of 2010
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