Posted on 09/14/2006 7:06:21 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Across the country, increasing production costs and inadequate federal funding have compounded to create a dietary crisis in public school lunch programs, and many people are clamoring for a change.
Jennifer Wilkins is one of those people. A senior extension associate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell, Wilkins has been outspoken in her criticism of the federal government and in her demand for a solution to the growing dietary crisis in America’s public schools.
Wilkins explained that the federal government has placed U.S. public schools in an unenviable position; strapped for cash, schools are still expected to provide a healthy, nutritious lunch to their students. Without a serious increase in federal funding, Wilkins argued, those expectations are impossible to meet.
In light of the inadequacies in federal funding, many schools have turned to alternative means of financing their respective lunch programs. One popular way to increase revenue has been the introduction of à la carte items. À la carte programs are funded by individual schools, and put foods on sale that can’t be found on the regular cafeteria menu. Revenue generated from the sale of a la carte items goes directly to the school, and can be subsequently used to finance underfunded programs like school lunches.
À la carte, though, has a negative side: food sold though the program is typically unhealthy, thus adding to the problem created by a restrictive budget.
Wendy Wolfe, a research associate in Nutritional Sciences at Cornell and a contributor to the Ithaca School District Wellness Policy, explained why à la carte programs do more harm than good for U.S. public schools.
“In response to low federal funding, schools have ended up selling more a la carte items to boost income,” Wolfe said. “However, there are minimal guidelines as to what those foods could be. Aside from carbonated drinks and candy, they could be anything.”
Additionally, Wolfe argued that, with an increase in federal funding, such items could be eliminated altogether.
“The extent to which it became so prevalent was to increase revenue,” Wolfe explained. “With more federal funding, it would never have become so widespread.”
Since when did schools become restaurants?
Kids are fat because parents are fat....and parents buy too much fast food and processed foods. I couldn't believe how much better I feel after giving up those things.
Jeemany whiz! Each school day, my mom fixed my samwidges (vienna sausage and mayo, if I recall) plus some sort of cookies, and I brown bagged it. So did most of my class.
What's this "federal funding" crap?
Far above Cayuga's waters,
There's an awful smell,
Some say it's Cayuga's waters,
Others say Cornell.
Agreed. My tax dollars going to pay for some kid's lunch in another state is NOT what the founding fathers had in mind
In fact, IMO, it is flat out unconstitutional.
(Vienna sausage and mayo??? What was that like?)
I am pretty sure *that* is the bottom of the academic/intellectual food chain.
And all those lottery dollars?
Kids are fat because their parents are lazy. Period.
In the flesh...
That picture looks like its from 1978
So will the federal government be willing to stay on Daylight Savings Time permanently so kids will have more time to play outside after school and burn off some calories?
Nanny!
Doesn't the amount of per-pupil spending on public schools equal that of many good private schools? It's simple, the government system is bloated and inefficient, with more money wasted than what good lunches cost, while the private schools have to control their costs.
Nanny!
Nanny!
On white. Actually, my sophomore taste thought it was very good.
Guess you had to be there. We had some darned good looking girls I could admire along with the samwidges.
I have a five year old who just started school. I look at her school's menu and see mostly junk for her lunch.
When I went thru elementary school, we had southern style home cooked meals every day in the school cafeteria. Some of the meals were as good as my Mom's cooking!!!
Exactly!
We're so afraid a child might not eat that we give them a dozen choices...... Instead of saying lunch is XY & Z. Even at home, I've seen mothers get up to fix Jr. a PB&B because he's upset with meatloaf.
In controlled settings where all kids are served the same meals with the understanding there are no subsitutions outside of allergies etc, you'd be surprised how quickly they start eating their veges etc.
Heck, I've seen them take a liking to collard greens and cornbread after a bit. And that ain't expensive food.
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