School lunch really does suck...

I had the day off on Monday for MLK Jr. day and decided I'd do myself a big favor and have lunch at school with my fifth grader. K was very happy to have mom and stepdad there, and we enjoyed seeing her classmates and such. She had fun showing me the many animals in their classroom again. No, I don't mean her fellow students. Let's see if I remember them all. There are two geckos, a tarantula, an African tortoise, a bearded dragon, and some hissing cockroaches. I think that's all. Since K is a HUGE science/animal nut, this is the perfect classroom for her.

But I digress. We went to the cafeteria for lunch. Mind you, my expectations were not high. I mean, when I went to school in our tiny town the "lunch ladies" at school were the same as the "church ladies" at church dinners. We ate very well, the food was prepared on site by women who knew how to make anything taste great. I think my childhood weight problem can partially be laid at their door, but they loved us all so much I don't think I'll do that. I knew going in that the food wouldn't be fantastic. I've heard my teens gripe about it often enough. "Mom, it's just GROSS." The food itself was not the worst I have ever eaten. That honor goes to hospital food.

I guess what surprised me was the lack of variety. In short, it was starch, starch, and more starch! First on the menu: Tacos. I know, you're picturing a lovely crunchy corn shell filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, fresh tomatoes and maybe some salsa. Well, we got 2 shells and 1 ice cream scoop of soyburger each with no perceptible seasoning in the meat. This was followed by corn (with little bits of pimiento in it so they could call it "mexican corn"). Another bin held some limp shredded lettuce combined with a flavorless, pale, shredded cheeselike substance. The highlight of the meal was a lovely Bosq pear half. I was appalled to hear the boys at the table arguing over whether it was an apple or a pear. Apparently they had never seen a Bosq before. Of course there was milk in those cute little cartons. There was also some taco sauce. Well, there had been taco sauce but by the time we got there it was pretty much empty.

Call me naive, but I was under the impression that the Federal Government, responding to public pressure, had improved the guidelines for school lunches since the days of my childhood. Remember the 80s, when Ronald Reagan tried to get ketchup counted as a vegetable? I went to the USDA web site to check it out, and disovered that they only regulate fat content and require that the meal provide 1/3 of the recommended allowance of iron, calcium, Vitamin A and C, and calories. Beyond that the food served is left to the discretion of the local schools. Which explains the starch parade. Our moms knew it and so does the school - starch is cheap and filling!

This is very bad. K has ADD and is on medications which zap her appetite. As a result I struggle to get her to eat enough every day. After sharing lunch with her I came to the conclusion that I need to add another task to my already overflowing days - packing her a healthy lunch. I must say she is very excited by this. For one thing it gave her a chance to trot out her lunchbox, which I covet! It is an old plastic one, bright yellow, with a sticker that shows Kool-Aid man zapping the thirsties. Her dad found it for her at a yard sale or something, and it is totally 80s awesome kid chic. The other one he got has Madballs "Gooey and Gross!" on the front and it is green. Anyone remember those toys? They were nasty looking, if the pics on the box do them any justice. Not sure why anyone would want to view them while trying to eat, but kids are funny that way. If I know K she will use it to try and gross out the boys.

The plus side of all this is that it will likely help me to pack my own healthier lunches too. Should help with that New Years Resolution to eat better. Though it's hard to ward off the all you can eat Mexican buffet that's right across the street from my office.