Tomorrow is National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day. What does that mean? Parents across the country will be stopping by school cafeterias to have lunch with their kids. The day — sponsored by KIWI, the School Nutrition Association, the Whole Kids Foundation, and Stonyfield was created in 2011 with the goal of opening the lines of communication between parents and schools and for parents to see firsthand what goes into their children’s lunches.
This year, you might be surprised at what the cafeteria is serving.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Through Michelle Obama’s championed Healthy, Hunger-Free Kid Act, higher nutrition standards have been set in place for the first time in 15 years. These standards insist that school meals offer more fruits and veggies (kids must take at least one serving per meal), only fat-free or low-fat milk, and more grains that are “whole-grain rich” (minimum of 50% of the grain is from whole grains). In addition, there are now limits on trans fat and sodium levels as well as maximum calorie intake based on student age. The increase in school nutrition standards is part of the First Lady’s campaign to reduce childhood obesity in America.
This bodes well for families who feel their healthy at-home eating comes undone at school. Now they can say: Goodbye 26-ingredient mystery burger! Hello zesty Asian chicken with salad and brown rice!
Some sample menus being offered by schools around the country include:
- Pizza made with a whole-grain crust and reduced-sodium sauce using sweet potato purée, Spinach Maria (a local dish) or steamed broccoli, locally grown melon slices (Knox County Schools, Tennessee)
- Beef barley stew, rosemary wheat roll, crunchy coleslaw, chilled pears (Highline Public Schools, Washington)
- Homemade chicken pot pie over a whole-grain biscuit, oven-roasted butternut squash, cranberry sauce, fresh cantaloupe (Andover Public Schools, Massachusetts)
Image: Bettina Elias Siegel
Is your child’s school not yet involved in National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day? Check out the official website for a parent tool kit that includes details on the new lunch standards, questions to ask your local school food service providers and samples letters to send to school officials.
I’m excited about this push toward higher nutrition since my daughter enters first grade next year. Now we still pack her lunch at home, and I aim to keep it balanced. I incorporate a healthy element to Sofie’s typical five-tear-old tastes, usually a rotation of: macaroni and cheese (Annie’s organic), (turkey) hot dogs, pizza (whole grain crust), cheese quesadilla (low-fat cheese), pasta with sauce (whole grain, no high fructose corn syrup in the sauce), and ham and cheese sandwiches (whole grain bread).
She has no problems with sides of fruit and veggies, although she will only eat raw veggies and usually does not venture beyond peppers, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes. I can live with that.
This year National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day happens to be Sofie’s birthday, and I must admit that I’ve promised to pack whatever she wants. She’s already opted for the orange, non-organic mac n’ cheese with a side of potato chips. Ugh. I’m a mom, though. I’m going to sneak in some pea pods, too.
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