If your child participates in school lunches in the cafeteria, he's faced every day with the monumental decision of fueling his body properly. While regulations are in place by the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandating the types of foods served in schools, that doesn't mean your child is making the best decisions when it comes to nutrition. By gaining a better understanding of the options your child has at school, you can work together to learn healthier habits and offer better alternatives.
Significance
When it comes to the type of foods served at school, parents can't afford to leave the choices up to their children. Even when healthy foods are on the menu, there's no guarantee that children will choose them in place of unhealthy options. Parents and educators can impress upon children the importance of healthy meal choices through classes and discussions that help students make better decisions in the lunch line. When parents and educators are united in their quest for healthier meals and snacks at school, children can learn healthy habits for life.
Regulations
The USDA regulates the types of foods served in lunchrooms in public schools, based on the current USDA food pyramid. The USDA and individual state legislation work together to endure that children have access to foods from each food group on a daily basis through meals and snacks offered by the cafeteria. Some suggestions for meals and before- and after-school programs include bean and cheese burritos, whole wheat subs, oven-baked fish and salad.
Solutions
Walk through a school lunch line and you'll see offerings such as chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fries and beef patties. Junk food that kids love to eat may overshadow or squeeze out the healthier options. Schools can place a heavier emphasis on choosing healthy foods by offering classes about nutrition and teaching children the importance of eating nutritious food for daily fuel. Placing healthier foods like fruit and vegetables at the beginning of the lunch line may also inspire children to choose healthy options first. Finding healthier options at more reasonable costs, such as purchasing in-season produce locally, can also help ensure wholesome foods are available in schools.
Alternatives
If your child's school refuses to participate in a movement toward better choices in the lunch line, you still have the choice to send your child to school with a packed lunch and snacks. A packed lunch gives you full control over the quality of food your child eats at school, while still offering her a variety of options. Packing meals in an attractive way can entice your child to make the switch from fries and nuggets to vegetables, fruit chunks, whole wheat bread and low-fat dairy without complaints.
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