Comments on: When parents stand in the way of better school food http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Raising kids to think about the food they eat Fri, 04 May 2012 16:04:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ruth http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-12899 Ruth Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:26:08 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-12899 I couldn't possibly read all the posts here. Food is very personal, very passionate topic for most families. We are in a cultural war of food bias and education. Schools do not make money on food service and are lucky to break even. There are new mandates coming down the pike that decreases sodium, fat, sugars but the transition to the mandate is forever slow and schools do not have to fully comply for about 10 years. In the meantime, with activists like Jamie Oliver schools are starting to wake up. Slowly. The biggest enemy is "my kid won't...." and it's complete shut down. The losing factor is all the kids who already know they won't because their parents are not good role models for choice. Schools in my area are fighting this as well. I've been in the middle of it advocating for parents with the school district in which most, not all, really care about is the bottom line in dollars not sense. Thank goodness that the revolution in kitchen gardens or farm to plate initiatives are moving forward. I am thankful I live and represent the communities I do. We are fairly progressive - but there is so much work to do. There needs to be parent education workshops with the PTA's as a start. I couldn’t possibly read all the posts here. Food is very personal, very passionate topic for most families. We are in a cultural war of food bias and education. Schools do not make money on food service and are lucky to break even. There are new mandates coming down the pike that decreases sodium, fat, sugars but the transition to the mandate is forever slow and schools do not have to fully comply for about 10 years. In the meantime, with activists like Jamie Oliver schools are starting to wake up. Slowly. The biggest enemy is “my kid won’t….” and it’s complete shut down. The losing factor is all the kids who already know they won’t because their parents are not good role models for choice. Schools in my area are fighting this as well. I’ve been in the middle of it advocating for parents with the school district in which most, not all, really care about is the bottom line in dollars not sense. Thank goodness that the revolution in kitchen gardens or farm to plate initiatives are moving forward. I am thankful I live and represent the communities I do. We are fairly progressive – but there is so much work to do. There needs to be parent education workshops with the PTA’s as a start.

]]> By: Claudia http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-11426 Claudia Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-11426 This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my life!!! I have 2 children (4 & 5) who are a little bit particular with what they eat... since they started preK, they have tried new foods offered there (mostly veggies) and both of them have increase the foods that they eat. The whole idea of parents advocating for unhealthy, processed food for their children makes me sad... these parents are setting up their children to a life with horrible & unhealthy eating habits... totally irresponsible This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my life!!!
I have 2 children (4 & 5) who are a little bit particular with what they eat… since they started preK, they have tried new foods offered there (mostly veggies) and both of them have increase the foods that they eat.

The whole idea of parents advocating for unhealthy, processed food for their children makes me sad… these parents are setting up their children to a life with horrible & unhealthy eating habits… totally irresponsible

]]> By: School food with legs: FoodCorps recruiting now | Spoonfed http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-5194 School food with legs: FoodCorps recruiting now | Spoonfed Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:38:41 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-5194 [...] doesn’t want better school food? (Well, besides these people?) If there’s one food topic that gets heads nodding, it’s that most school kids are [...] [...] doesn’t want better school food? (Well, besides these people?) If there’s one food topic that gets heads nodding, it’s that most school kids are [...]

]]> By: Christina http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-2542 Christina Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:56:16 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-2542 Emily, glad you're interested in an update. I've been meaning to check back, so I'll add a more definitive to-do to my list. Stay tuned. Emily, glad you’re interested in an update. I’ve been meaning to check back, so I’ll add a more definitive to-do to my list. Stay tuned.

]]> By: Emily http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-2539 Emily Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:13:17 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-2539 It would be nice to hear any updates on this situation in a future post. : ) It would be nice to hear any updates on this situation in a future post. : )

]]> By: Amylouise http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-1340 Amylouise Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:10:53 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-1340 I've heard and said " some people eat to live and others live to eat " but I always took it differently. The eat to live folks (like me) eat food so that to carry on with energy and health and get on with my life, where as the live to eat are the folks who really love food, love eating and love making it, it's why they are here. My mom lives to eat, she is always eating, reading cook books, thinking of food. I like so many things and have to remind myself to eat ("oh gosh, it's 1 pm already, I better eat lunch, ugh"). That being said, I'm vegan and grab some nuts, fruit and a couple veggies so have energy to get back to what I'm doing. I'm trying to teach my sons the same, although my 7 mo old is a "live to eat" type, lol, he LOVES eating. Like you all, I'm glad the school is trying to improve their food, I cringe thinking about my (now 4 yr old) son fending for himself at the school cafeteria in a couple of years and planned on only packing lunches. I’ve heard and said ” some people eat to live and others live to eat ” but I always took it differently. The eat to live folks (like me) eat food so that to carry on with energy and health and get on with my life, where as the live to eat are the folks who really love food, love eating and love making it, it’s why they are here. My mom lives to eat, she is always eating, reading cook books, thinking of food. I like so many things and have to remind myself to eat (“oh gosh, it’s 1 pm already, I better eat lunch, ugh”). That being said, I’m vegan and grab some nuts, fruit and a couple veggies so have energy to get back to what I’m doing. I’m trying to teach my sons the same, although my 7 mo old is a “live to eat” type, lol, he LOVES eating. Like you all, I’m glad the school is trying to improve their food, I cringe thinking about my (now 4 yr old) son fending for himself at the school cafeteria in a couple of years and planned on only packing lunches.

]]> By: Bri http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-1331 Bri Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:00:03 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-1331 I can't stand this. I wish I'd had the time to read everyone's comments, but what kills me the most is to think that these parents are so "concerned" that their children "won't eat it" -- yet they are clearly not concerned enough to pack a lunch for their children, if that's truly the case. If everyone has different likes and dislikes, and your child doesn't like the cafeteria food, then you pack them something they will eat. This is a prime example of the "it's not my problem" type of parenting attitude that has gotten us into this mess in the first place. And I won't even go INTO all the nutritionally terrifying things about it, nor the fact that it's just ridiculous and defeatist to MAKE your children into picky eaters by assuming they will or will not eat what's given to them. It's just so sad. We have a long way to go. I can’t stand this. I wish I’d had the time to read everyone’s comments, but what kills me the most is to think that these parents are so “concerned” that their children “won’t eat it” — yet they are clearly not concerned enough to pack a lunch for their children, if that’s truly the case. If everyone has different likes and dislikes, and your child doesn’t like the cafeteria food, then you pack them something they will eat. This is a prime example of the “it’s not my problem” type of parenting attitude that has gotten us into this mess in the first place. And I won’t even go INTO all the nutritionally terrifying things about it, nor the fact that it’s just ridiculous and defeatist to MAKE your children into picky eaters by assuming they will or will not eat what’s given to them. It’s just so sad. We have a long way to go.

]]> By: School food: Beyond swapping white for wheat | Spoonfed http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-1321 School food: Beyond swapping white for wheat | Spoonfed Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:19:57 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-1321 [...] Far from it. Too many schools are still striving for even the most basic changes. (And sometimes meeting resistance along the way.) But there’s been steady growth in school gardens and farm-to-school programs, [...] [...] Far from it. Too many schools are still striving for even the most basic changes. (And sometimes meeting resistance along the way.) But there’s been steady growth in school gardens and farm-to-school programs, [...]

]]> By: Cordelia http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-960 Cordelia Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:20:54 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-960 I say if the kids get hungry enough they will eat the school choice or the parents can send in lunch. I already send my son's lunch because the school's lunch is such crap. They can take a turn! They want to send in deep fried junk-that is up to them. Peer pressure is the most effective way to get kids eating healthier-if their friends are doing it (especially the cool older kids) they will too. I say if the kids get hungry enough they will eat the school choice or the parents can send in lunch. I already send my son’s lunch because the school’s lunch is such crap. They can take a turn! They want to send in deep fried junk-that is up to them. Peer pressure is the most effective way to get kids eating healthier-if their friends are doing it (especially the cool older kids) they will too.

]]> By: Christina http://spoonfedblog.net/2010/06/08/when-parents-stand-in-the-way-of-better-school-food/comment-page-1/#comment-938 Christina Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:33:12 +0000 http://spoonfedblog.net/?p=716#comment-938 How great that the kids are now getting things like apples and cheese instead of junk food during class parties. We recently had a student art show at my daughter's school, and though her school has no cafeteria and all the kids bring their own lunches/snacks, parties can be over the top with junk. In this case, though, the teachers requested that parents bring only fruit, and cheese and crackers. That was in keeping with the "art opening" theme, but it also was a conscious effort to offer only healthier options. (One teacher even turned down a parent's offer to bring brownies.) And wouldn't you know it? Every single piece of fruit and cheese was <em>gone</em>. The kids (literally) ate it up. How great that the kids are now getting things like apples and cheese instead of junk food during class parties. We recently had a student art show at my daughter’s school, and though her school has no cafeteria and all the kids bring their own lunches/snacks, parties can be over the top with junk. In this case, though, the teachers requested that parents bring only fruit, and cheese and crackers. That was in keeping with the “art opening” theme, but it also was a conscious effort to offer only healthier options. (One teacher even turned down a parent’s offer to bring brownies.) And wouldn’t you know it? Every single piece of fruit and cheese was gone. The kids (literally) ate it up.

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