Comments on: You Call This Food?

By: Ed Bruske

Ed Bruske — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:42:54 +0000

It does absolutely no good to blame the parents. Kids can’t be held responsible for their parenting. They require attention, and are totally dependent on adults to do the right thing. For good or ill, schools are in a position where they must do something. Apparently, it takes a village to feed kids properly.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:11:37 +0000

I like you take on things, but ultimately the responsibility for our children and their choices is the parent’s. Most of those kids have no idea how to eat healthy because their parents don’t eat healthy and don’t bother to learn or teach how it is done. If the parents object to what is offered they should provide a lunch for their children, one that is nutritious, delicious, and what the kids will eat. (The waste that goes on in school cafeterias is a whole other topic of conversation… don’t get me started!)

Just found your blog, thanks for standing up and saying it!

By: BHassan

BHassan — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:46:10 +0000

My daughter was lucky to have attended a small elementary school in Italy who had a novel approach to school lunches – - a nutrition committee composed of the responsible administrator, volunteer parents, and student representatives determined the weekly menu according to budget, nutrition, and WHAT THE CHILDREN WANTED TO EAT – - (the all caps are purely for emphasis; please don’t assume that I am yelling) – - I think that is the most important part – - that child-preferred nutritious food was served, and so, consumed.

By: rascott

rascott — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:58:37 +0000

SERIOUSLY. many of the adults “in charge” complain that they offer the kids “healthy” options, but in the end it is up to the student to decide what to take on their trays and what to eat. Since when do LITTLE KIDS get to decide what is best for them? grownups are supposed to teach them. keep up the good work!

By: shelly

shelly — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 01:38:44 +0000

I am so sad to say that this does not surprise me!
I recently spent time with my three pre-teen niece and nephews and counted 32 boxes of sugared cereal in the pantry, frozen eggo waffles, red vines and on and on. I am not convinced that household income has anything to do with this behavior as this is a high 6 figure one, but the claim of” I am so busy” is certainly a default answer when it comes to this subject!
I think until parents, who cannot be fired or bullied into silence, step up en masse the health of our nation will not improve. Here is a call out to you all!

By: B4GoodFood

B4GoodFood — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:32:23 +0000

Somebody’s asleep at the switch! No, make that: they’re in a COMA at the switch! This is NOT lunch, it’s not even a decent snack! Yep, let them kiddies fill themselves up with carbs and sugar – they’ll get wound up and crash & burn in class.

ENOUGH! Between the media, (Mickey D’s comes to mind) and the onslaught of processed garbage offered in the stores, parents who are shell-shocked trying to deal with kids, higher prices for everything and the yucky economy, the schools are throwing in the towel on food, too! WHAT GIVES?

It’s time to TAKE BACK OUR FOOD and part of that should be getting good food into EVERY school.

Mandated reading SHOULD BE:
“Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser
“The Supersizing of America-Don’t Eat This Book” by Morton Spurlock along with
MOVIES like FRESH and FOOD, Inc.
Parents would be required to attend the movies -and- read the books WITH their kids.

The more everyone knows about our food system (hopefully) The more they’ll stand up to it and DEMAND GOOD FOOD!

Nuff said!

By: Peta

Peta — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:54:54 +0000

wow…I thought I had seen the worst of it here in Hoboken! ….fries and chips for lunch? Shocking and so very sad.
The one thing that stands out for me is : “Would anyone like to step forward and take responsibility for feeding our children in school?” It seems to me its up to us, fighting and advocating at grassroot level!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:09:40 +0000

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, this picture reminds me of 2 words: ” crime scene”. Thank you, good luck, and my prayers.

By: MzT

MzT — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:29:55 +0000

Ai caramba! As though reassigning the cheddar-cheese loving kitchen staff or admonishing the principal addresses the problem in any way! What an icky feeling, to have your work of revealing what’s happening with school food result in such completely unproductive consequences. Leaves me grossed out, even more than by the lunch. (If I ate that for lunch, I’d be lethargic and dull for the rest of the afternoon.) Thanks for plugging along, clearly it isn’t a glamourous journey for you.

By: Euclidmom

Euclidmom — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:58:24 +0000

Wow!! Funny that you used the term “vivid color” to describe that. There is no color there. Ok, I guess the strawberry milk is probably a “vivid color”.

How sad that the principal and the cafeteria worker got in trouble for what is being served to the kids — its not like either of them have any power over the situation. From your original series it sounded like the young lady in the kitchen was doing her best to prepare food that has some flavor. Adding cheese to everything might not be the best solution in an ideal world, but given what she had a available to her, I’d be hard pressed to criticize.