School lunch participation went down with federally mandated healthy menu in Fall 2012
School lunch purchases are on the decline with federally mandated menu guidelines.
At the Thursday night Jan. 10th school board meeting Dr. Tony Brads said school lunch purchases fell by 10% in the fall of the year. At the same time, the cost for food to the nutrition program rose by about the same amount.
He said, “Federal guidelines for nutrition have cost us student purchases. For instance a cheeseburger sells better than a hamburger, which we had not been allowed in the new menus.” Students are buying meals at a less frequent rate than before and also more a la cart items which do not bring in the same funding.
He said with a laugh, that it is hard to dress up Kale. Ala cart items and the cost increases on food are contributing to what he reminded school board is a loss to what is the largest eatery in the county five days per week at breakfast and lunch. They are the school nutrition program sites –the school cafeterias –at every school in the county.
Adding some less restrictive standards will allow the sale of a cheeseburger for instance and some other substitutes. Chris Morris, Nutrition Specialist for the School Division said after the winter break that the 2 per cent protein limit has been relaxed. The grain restriction has also been relaxed. In elementary schools the 9 ounces of whole grains were offered for an entire week, which limited a sandwich selection on the 5th day. Even with the lifted restriction on the cheeseburger, only one will be offered per six weeks.
The school nutrition program operates in its on budget and relies on some federal reimbursement. A child has to have a fruit or vegetable on a tray lunch by federal guideline. “If Kale is put on the tray in the elementary school level, kale goes in the trash, so there is a lot of waste,” said Morris. “Children do not understand we have to put the vegetable or fruit on the tray in order to meet the federal guideline for reimbursement.” It is having negative consequences. She described that they have had elementary students cry in the line when they are forced to take something they do not want to eat, but the school cafeteria managers have little choice with the federal guidelines.
“Kids are not feeling good about lunch, but the the adults who created the new standards are feeling good,” Brads stated.
“There’s a struggle with whole grains as well. The school nutrition program has to use whole wheat macaroni that neither looks or tastes the same in macaroni and cheese, so kids do not choose to eat,” continued Morris. “We hear students go home hungry and binge eat at home because they are hungry when they get off the bus,” noted Morris. Likely this not what the purveyors of the nutrition standards had in mind when they established the new federal guidelines.
“Kids are not feeling good about lunch, but the the adults who created the new standards are feeling good,” Brads stated.
Milk container recycling is also an issue currently. The left over milk in the plastic containers is causing a stir with the recycling company. The school division is recycling about 300,000 containers. Brads said they would continue to address the situation.
January 14, 2013 - 3:00 PM
I am at work in the school food service program. Now, more than ever we are at risk of loosing our account with the district because our participation is at it’s LOWEST!!!!
Thank you to the Obama Administration for wanting to reduce childhood obesity. But how are we going to help all the jobless cafeteria workers who loose their jobs because their employers can no longer financially support the federally mandated lunch programs. You are right, I hope they are happy with the changes they have made, because NOBODY else is!