Fun with Food: A Tale of Two Cities
May 22nd, 2010 · 3 Comments · Posted in kids, school food
With the mainstream media lavishing so much attention on a recent state dinner at the White House honoring the president of Mexico, I thought it would be interesting to compare what happens at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue foodwise with the less publicized activities taking place in the cafeteria at the D.C. public school my daughter attends barely a mile away.
As you can see, guests at a state dinner are serenaded by musicians wearing fancy uniforms.
In D.C. schools, meanwhile, kids entertain themselves by unbundling their lunch ‘burritos” to see what’s inside.
Guests at the White House get to take a fun trolley ride to a tent where the gala dinner is served to music and mood lighting.
Kids at my daughter’s school get fun plastic packaging to look at, like the one their “grilled” cheese sandwiches are steamed in.
Guests at a state dinner are served remarkable food in elaborately decorated surroundings.
At school, kids create their own decorations with ketchup.
At the White House, table design is considered a fine art.
At a White House state dinner, guests dine with incredibly gorgeous china and cutlery.
At my daughter’s school, kids eat from Styrofoam trays and very often use their hands to make food more fun.
At White House state dinners, a phalanx of highly skilled chefs prepares delicious food for the multitudes.
At my daughter’s school, there’s really no need for professional chefs or much skill to serve re-heated potato wedges and Sun Chips for lunch. Kids like strawberry milk better anyway.
Ed,
As always you hit the nail right on the head. We must have proactive solutions to this, The White House has to enlist people whom can help with practical solutions, not broad strokes that really don’t effect change… “Chefs Move on Schools”
I’m a relatively new reader, and I love your blog. I’d like to see another chapter in your tale of two cities: a comparion of public school lunches with those served at Sidwell Friends, where the Obamas’ children go to school.
A wonderful juxtaposition, inflammatory yet poignant. How much do you think it would cost to put some brown rice, black beans, salsa and government subsidized pepperjack in that “burrito”? Shouldn’t schools be teaching our children how to eat well and stay healthy?
BTW, how long does it take to cook a 40 lb turkey? My guess is about 10 hours.