Hunger Should Not Be On Obama's School Lunch Menu
Tim Huelskamp - Tue 03:05 PM 09/11/2012
While traveling throughout Kansas’ Big First during the August District Work Period, Congressman Tim Huelskamp heard from many Kansas parents that school lunches are leaving their children hungry. In order to comply with new Obama Administration mandates, Kansas schools are being forced to serve children fewer calories of less tasteful food – ultimately leaving children under-fed.
“Big government wins again,” Congressman Huelskamp said. “First Lady Michelle Obama’s agenda full of ‘exciting changes’ – her words, not mine – are leaving our kids hungry, undermining the whole goal of a school lunch program. One of the major reasons they started the school lunch program was to ensure that children were full enough in order to function well in a classroom. But, seeing pictures of some of the lunches children are served now, it is obvious that the original objective is no longer being met.”
“If Washington is going to be in the school lunch business, then it should at least ensure that children have full stomachs. Parents who purchase school lunches for their children or taxpayers who support free- and reduced- lunch programs have the expectation that what kids eat are meals – not mere snacks. And, if we want to make sure our children are active, then they need a meal complete with ample protein – not just more grains. The First Lady has recognized that ‘talented people’ work in our school cafeterias; I agree. Let’s let the talented people in each school district figure out what their own children will eat – not dictate it from the White House.”
Congressman Tim Huelskamp has already received several pictures of school lunch trays, and is inviting other Kansans to submit additional pictures. Kansans who wish to submit pictures should send them to: ks01.media@mail.house.gov. In the email, please include the name of the school and town as well as the grade level of the student.
----
Congressman Tim Huelskamp is a freshman representing the First District of Kansas. He serves on the House Budget,
Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, and he is a member of the House Republican Study Committee.
Post a comment Log in or Register to comment
morningsun
Tuesday 11 September 2012 16:41 Report this comment
There's all kinds of news stories regarding childhood obesity, and they are trying to change habits and teach children how to choose healthier choices. I posted an example of what was on a lunch menue before and after the changes for the USDA website. Before: Bean and cheese burrito (5.3 oz) with mozzarella cheese (1 oz) Applesauce (1/4 cup) Orange juice (4 oz) 2 percent milk (8 oz) After: Turkey (1 oz) and low-fat cheese (0.5 oz) sandwich on whole wheat bread Refried beans (1/2 cup) Jicama (1/4 cup) Green pepper strips (1/4 cup) Cantaloupe wedges (1/2 cup) Skim milk (8 oz) Mustard (9 grams) Reduced fat mayonnaise (1 oz) Low-fat ranch drip (1 oz) How can you complain about eating healthy food and teaching children how to take better care of themselves and reduce health problems in the future?
Freewill
Tuesday 11 September 2012 16:54 Report this comment
one plate does not fit all. New lunches are not a good deal for our children.
troy
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:20 Report this comment
The new lunches suck canal water. 9 grams of mustard! You have got to be kidding.....9 grams of mustard! That is actually counted as a lunch item! 1 oz of reduced fat mayo!.....1 oz! My kids come home every day and complain of being hungry. They mow through the snacks in the house at an alarming rate. The first thing they do is make a pizza, some mac & cheeze and eat what ever is close while the rest is cooking. My kids are healthy and fit. They have never done this before this school year. They tell me the other kids in school are not paying attention in class after lunch because they are so hungry. More and more are begining to bring their own sack lunches.....my kids will soon join them.
conlee
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:31 Report this comment
Jicama? What kids are going to eat that when their parents don't, most don't know what it is, and I believe it is expensive to buy? Cantalope is not availabe year round, unless it is shipped in-making it expensive.
troy
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:47 Report this comment
Jicama is often refered to as "the hispanic potato". We don't need any more hispanics, and we sure don't need their taters either.
troy
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:48 Report this comment
That was wierd. I typed hispanics and it replaced it with hispanics.
troy
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:49 Report this comment
OMG! m e x i c a n is a bad word!
Indy452
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:51 Report this comment
I work in a luchroom from KDG-6th graders every day..aprox 400 students eat luch in front of me. I will say that IMO the new lunches are a refreshing change but I do see that the kids are eating less because they are leaving it on the tray because they choose not to eat it. If they would simply eat the broccoli or whatever is offered they would feel less hungry. You would be alarmed at how much food is being wasted now....its unreal! I see it everyday........My complaint is that the adults get the same portion as the kids...That to me makes no sense....Most of the time I eat whats on my tray and bring a sandwich or whatever to compensate....thats what bothers me the most other than the sheer amounts of waste of perfectly good fresh food...Oh and BTW, have not seen jicama either and supposedly these menus all comes from the state so I don't know where the guys who mentioned it was from.
troy
Tuesday 11 September 2012 21:58 Report this comment
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?" Pink Floyd The Wall 30 November 1979
evilklown
Tuesday 11 September 2012 22:54
(Deleted by Administrator)
Indy452
Wednesday 12 September 2012 07:00 Report this comment
Yes troy...its considered derogatory. And you evilklown......there is no reason your comment should even be on this topic other than it clearly shows you are a racist...sick pos.
SalinaSenior
Wednesday 12 September 2012 07:44 Report this comment
I love how he distorts Obama's plan for healthier and more nutritious food to this. Especially considering the huge impact of childhood obesity today. I wonder if he actually believes this crap or if it just looks good politically to lie and distort the truth.
Indy452
Wednesday 12 September 2012 08:20 Report this comment
SalinaSenior, yes its Huelskamp and that bunch of hate monglers....this is all that they can do is distort the story's and spread their hate. It will come back top bite them soon enough.
carebear09
Wednesday 12 September 2012 08:43 Report this comment
I understand haveing the kids eat healthier but you can't have a meal plan that treats kids all the same. You have atheletes that burn calories faster than some other students. What happens when they pass out at practice because they didn't get enough to eat. They go straight to practice after school they don't have time to go home and eat before they come back. And you can't expect kids to eat all their food. kids are picky they aren't going to eat something they don't like.
lausch1973
Wednesday 12 September 2012 09:13 Report this comment
Forcing kids to put healthier foods on their trays does not help them make better choices! I refuse to pay $2.90 for food in which my kids will not eat, whether healthy or not! The kids should be offered those choices, not forced to take them...just to throw the food away because they don't want nor like it! I agree that the White House has no place regulating school lunches; it is supposed to be a democracy, land of the free, place of choices. Let our kids eat what they used to eat at school...don't force food on their trays that is just going in the trash!!
CC0709
Wednesday 12 September 2012 09:14 Report this comment
I think the real problem lies with highly over processed foods that we consume at home on a daily basis and kids sitting around playing video games for hours on end instead of playing outside and being active. Technology is a blessing and a curse all at one time. All these kids have handheld video games, iphones, ipods, laptops etc that encourage them to stay seated!!!! The schools need more PE activities, get kids moving and more active. Stay out of the lunch program - I have to agree the amount of waste is HUGE. By this new school lunch "LAW" the kids are forced to take the food and they simply aren't eating it and it goes right into the trash - HUGE WASTE. I don't think Washington needs to get involved in the school lunch program other than helping support the free meals for those less fortunate. And that's done with our tax dollars. I don't know - this is just more "Big Brother" for you and it's getting out control.
CC0709
Wednesday 12 September 2012 09:15 Report this comment
Apparently you are only allowed so many words per post.... Are kids allowed to bring lunches from home? That's a question I've had on my mind for a while. Does Washington dictate what can and can't be in their school lunch? I myself with the way the lunch program is now - would rather pack a healthy lunch for my child at home and send it with them. I know what my child likes to eat and what they don't and it would work out better that way.
CC0709
Wednesday 12 September 2012 09:17 Report this comment
And for the record - we don't buy soda or sugary snacks at home. We eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and I make homemade cookies etc for snacks. I don't ban food but I try to keep healthy choices at home rather than stuff loaded with sugar. But that's just how we roll at our house........
Randy57
Wednesday 12 September 2012 09:44 Report this comment
What's disturbing about this is the fact that the FED has again dictated a set of rules for the states to follow. I'm quite sure we have plenty of trained nutritionist in the school system that can figure out what is and isn't good for our children. Another step towards socialism. Enjoy.
carebear09
Wednesday 12 September 2012 11:24 Report this comment
CC0709: The school that my kids attened can bring their own lunches however, I found out that the school has started going through those lunches and if they are not as healthy as they should be they make the student get school lunchy. My kis take their of lunch and I give them healthy food but I also let them have a candy bar every once in awhile. I don't think the school should be able to make the kids eat school lunch. Also the high school provides pop machines if they want the school lunches to be healty and they get on students about drinking pop at school they shouldn't provide the opportunity. If you let the kids chose to drink the pop thats what they are going to pick. You can't offer it and then not let them have it thats stupid!
SalinaSenior
Wednesday 12 September 2012 11:31 Report this comment
Call this socialism shows your stupidity of history and what socialism actually is. This is about giving kids healthier food. Considering the permanent damage and toll of childhood obesity we need to not allow kids to eat tons of junk food at school. It might taste good but eating pizza,a gallon of soda and french fries for lunch isn't good. Most kids need to eat more healthy meal where they get fed for lunch and maybe breakfast is a positive thing for them and society as a whole.
SalinaSenior
Wednesday 12 September 2012 11:32 Report this comment
^meals
Randy57
Wednesday 12 September 2012 13:45 Report this comment
Calling me stupid shows how narrow minded you are and the fact that you suffer from cranial rectinitis. I said a "step towards socialism". And I also stated that this STATE has professionals that can develop healthy lunches for the kids. Federal involvment is NOT necessary. I fully agree that the kids need to eat healthier...but I don't believe they need to go grazing in the meadow to do it.
koniginb71
Wednesday 12 September 2012 14:39 Report this comment
and the other article reads that kansas does not accept money for exercise trails....This crazy man has no idea what hes talking about. It is an adjustment. Our children and fat and lazy and we need to address this. You can always pack your child lots of his/her favorite foods.....or you can encourage the change and take the example and run with it in your own home...the effects will be lower healthcare bills, more energy and let calories consumed......its not a conspiracy....get with the program
ksgal2012
Wednesday 12 September 2012 15:46 Report this comment
I think everone needs to remember....lessons about food and diet begin at home. My allowing the government to dictate what we feed our children just shows that they must think there are a lot of stupid parents out there! If parents were to educate the kids more and do not let them set in front of a TV non-stop then the problem may take care if itself.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 22:52 Report this comment
I would like to challenge everyone to re-read the above comments and only pay attention to the facts. koniginb71 says "our children are fat and lazy..." statements like that are so general it shows some are swayed by sterotypes. Yes, childhood obesity is becoming a problem, but lets not blame ALL CHILDREN for this.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 22:52 Report this comment
I have 3 children of my own and I work at a school. I see both sides of this new lunch problem. None of my children are overweight, they are all three extremely healthy. They eat junk food and fast food SOMETIMES. Moderation is the key. A school lunch change alone is NOT going to make a child obese or healthier. FACTS show that when a person is hungry, they tend to eat sugary snacks in excess if that is what is available. So, STEROTYPICALLY a child who is overweight because of a home with excessive junk/non healthy choices, when they get home from school and are hungry due to the new lunch guidelines, they are actually going to consume more non-healthy items.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 22:53 Report this comment
For the most part all of our Salina children are still growing and developing. This is not the time to reduce their calorie intake when the calories are good calories. Over the past several years our USD305 food service has done a great job of using whole wheat to make rolls, adding an extra fruit choice, etc.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 22:53 Report this comment
The head of food service has put many hours into figuring better ways to prepare items to make things healthier for our kids! I know this is a fact because I attended meetings on this very subject two and three years ago. Salina school lunches compared to other districts was very healthy. Kids had enough to eat, get full and it was for the most part a good balanced lunch. This is not what we are seeing so far this year. Did USD305 take it too far this time on their own or Are they really following M. Obama's guidelines? This is the real question. If Salina took it too far, they need to correct it quickly. Kids do need calories to grow physically and mentally and SOME of these calories do need to come from fats for proper development. If M. Obama has taken it too far, it's time to stand up to the government for our children's sake.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 23:00 Report this comment
With all that said here is my REAL CONCERN. I know for a FACT a school lunch is the only meal some children receive that day. I do not know how we can take precious calories and nutrution from these kids. No matter how much you deny it, there really are hungry children in Salina. They are my main concern. I am so blessed, even as a single mom of 3, to be able to pack extra sandwiches for my chilren to take this year to go along with their school lunch. Some parents cannot do that. Their children are the real ones suffering in this mess. I cry as I type this because I see faces of children I know are not fed often at home and I worry about them on weekends.
JIK
Wednesday 12 September 2012 23:03 Report this comment
Instead of complaining about the obese children, pop and french fries eaten at school like SalinaSenior (no pop has been allowed for the past few years and the fries at school are baked not fried and normally they are sweet potato fries!...get your facts straight please) lets stop complaining about what we HEAR from the media and learn the facts for ourselves. And above all we should do what we can to help and protect the TRUE HUNGRY CHILDREN OF SALINA! They need a good, full, school lunch. Yes, one that includes some fat and sugar to support their proper development. Pray for the hungry children. Some of them need it now more than ever since their main source of food has been drastically reduced.
SD
Thursday 13 September 2012 01:07 Report this comment
I am in Lawrence, and the elementary children create their OWN servings, with the exception of the entree. I am pretty certain that is how it is in Salina. IF children have learned at home to eat veggies and salad, nobody could be hungry. My grandson is a big eater, and he dishes up salad, veggies, rice or sweet potato fries(whatever the other side is) plus the entree. They serve great lunches here and are usually quite healthy.. Lunches are a thousand percent better than in the '60's!
tgsalina
Thursday 13 September 2012 09:07 Report this comment
Many good points made here and I'm not going to take sides . . . . just want to point out that this is another semi-news, semi-political statement that we've seen more of lately on here. (Look at the headline.)
SalinaSenior
Thursday 13 September 2012 11:28 Report this comment
I am tired of people especially from the younger generations who throw around socialism,fascism and communism so lightly. For those of us who fought against the real things it just sounds completely stupid and dissociated from reality. To JIK I agree with you and that might be true in Salina but I think that is an exception, not the rule. The USDA and the President are not requiring the elimination of fat or sugar. I don't see how making better nutritional choices are somehow depriving kids of the food they need or reducing their calories.
SalinaSenior
Thursday 13 September 2012 11:38 Report this comment
cranial rectinitis HAHA i like liked that one
AverageJane
Thursday 13 September 2012 13:03 Report this comment
I would just like to point out that for a high school student, the maximum allowance of protein is only 10 - 12 ounces per week. For an elementary student, the allowance is only 8 - 10 ounces per week. The reason our children are starving is because they are being served only 1 - 3 ounces of protein per day. Protein keeps the kids feeling full. Active children like my own are then going to volleyball practice and dance right after school. The fruits and veggies are a great idea. But when the fruits and vegetables are mushy, and the pbj's are still frozen, of course the kids aren't going to want to eat them.
AverageJane
Thursday 13 September 2012 13:03 Report this comment
Kids also need protein and fats for proper brain development. Anyone who's had a child knows this and how important it is during the first few years of life. While in school, these kids' brains are still developing and need some fats, not excessive, to grow and function properly. If they could just tweak the system to allow more protein and better quality options, kids and parents alike would be much happier with the school lunch program.
AverageJane
Thursday 13 September 2012 13:06 Report this comment
On a side note, I've never known a kid who became obese from taking part in the school lunch program.
JIK
Thursday 13 September 2012 13:22 Report this comment
Thank you AverageJane! A true voice of reason!
RedNeckWatch
Thursday 13 September 2012 15:17 Report this comment
THis is just our congressman trying to slime the First Lady. I visited a school last spring and the school lunches looked pretty much the same way they did when I was eating them over 40 years ago. They were never very tasty and never very big. Obesity is the number one health problem among our youth and school lunches should not contribute to the problem with high fat, high sugar meals.
Moxieschickens
Thursday 13 September 2012 20:33 Report this comment
Active kids need more calories. Our boys paid for two lunches a day when they were in high school. Our grandson takes his lunch now. And kids that have no breakfast? They need more calories at lunch. Period. School lunches never were and still are not the reason for childhood obesity.
mobugs
Thursday 13 September 2012 20:34 Report this comment
The lunches from the last school year were larger. To everyone who says the kids are hungry because they are choosing to not eat the veggies. My kids eat veggies and fruits and even after eating everything (the portion sizes are smaller) they are still complaining of being hungry as soon as they get home. My kids are very outgoing and athletic, they quickly burn the 700 calories that the school lunch consists of. What they (the goverment) are going to end up doing is forcing parents to send lunches from home and what would stop some parents from allowing them to eat nothing but junk food?? Are they going to have someone check each lunch brought from home and make sure it is well balanced? Instead of targeting the meals and the food children eat why not work on the fitness/excercise or lack of in some kids.
rea2ons
Friday 14 September 2012 12:18 Report this comment
I am a parent that actually goes to the school and eats lunch with my kids. This year I am amazed at the amount of food that is being thrown away, not only by the children, but by the staff as well. The portion sizes are half to less than half of what they have been in the past. The kids are hungry within an hour of eating lunch and they start acting up in class because they are not satisified. This will lead to lower test scores because they are not concentrating on their school work. School lunch is the only meal some of these kids get. It is just a sad situation when the government, or more importantly our presidents wife, feels the need to tell us what we can and cannot serve our children. I have been sending my children lunch to school after going to the school several times this year and eating with them. They no longer come home from school raiding the kitchen for food when they get home. We give them a healthy lunch from home with a few more calories that satisify them until supper time.
ShadowCipher
Friday 14 September 2012 14:31 Report this comment
I am all for schools making meals healthier, but that simply does not seem to be what is going on. It would seem it is simply a money saving scheme. Public schools should not be cutting costs like this; fresh, and healthy food is what the schools need. For a small percentage of students, it really could be their only meal in a day. It is very sad that something as important as food, and health has been so poorly cared about.
Rd-dvL34
Friday 14 September 2012 19:56 Report this comment
I would just like to add that NOT all kids are OBESE.....So it really shouldnt be up to Ms. Obama on what should be served to our children at school. Back when I was in school, we had plenty on our trays and even had the chance to go back for seconds (if avail.) I agree that the new food choices is far less than it used to be. I know of a school district in KS (surely not Salina) that is serving lunches like lasagna, and other fulfilling foods along with their breakfast menus serving french toast w/ scrambled eggs, pancakes w/ sausage links...........and when i look @ my child's menu shes getting served muffins, fruit bars, granola bars, cereal bars....PLEASE...where is the real breakfast of champions??? where are the choices you have for lunch????
RedNeckWatch
Saturday 15 September 2012 01:14 Report this comment
Rd-dvL34, you are absolutley correct when you say that not all kids are obese. But somebody has to make the school lunch policies and Ms. Obama is perfectly capable of doing that. How can you argue with her effort to ensure our kids receive nutritious meals that won't cause or contribute to health problems. The breakfast of champions is Wheaties, not all of the dishes you describe. Don;t you agree that it is better to let parents feed their kids lasagna and scrambled eggs and sausage links for breakfast or dinner and leave the school lunch program to provide a well balanced, nutritious meal?
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 09:06 Report this comment
Let me begin by saying I work at a school, and I'll be glad to set some ground commentary. 1. All children on free or reduced lunch MUST be offered breakfast, this also means if a child is late due to a school issue the child must still be offered. Recently my district changed the bus routes a little and those children who came in 3-5 minutes late were all asked if they would like to come to the lunch room for breakfast. 2. 1 in 3 kids are obese, now all of you look back on your OWN childhoods, or your PARENTS childhoods BEFORE obesity was such an issue. Now look at home life during that time era. When I was a child I had an "old fashioned" type baby sitter. Her rule was, "If you don't like what I serve you don't eat." This rule is something that a lot of older people probably remember. Parents didn't have money to make a full dinner and then turn to their children and say, "You didn't like that? Lets grab McDonalds."
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 09:11 Report this comment
Everyone seems to want to push blame on Mrs. Obama because she wants kids to see those colors of fruits and veggies on their plate and decide to eat them. Yes, you see kids who are grumpy at first and toss them in the trash. As time goes on those kids WILL fold. Furthermore, you look at the privatized sector of education and they've been doing this for years. Where is the crime in wanting our children to want to live active, healthier, longer lives? Now, as an adult these meals don't ALWAYS fill me but sometimes they do. As a grown adult male I can safely say there have been times where I did not finish my food. Lastly, if your children are the children just throwing the food away, either pack a lunch for them as CC0709 mentioned or TEACH YOUR LITTLE BRATTY CHILD TO EAT THE FOOD THEY ARE GIVEN. You guys act like the school made them reliant on junk food. No, you as a parent taught your children it was alright to toss the food in the trash and come home and have pizza for dinner.
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 09:14 Report this comment
Finally, as someone who is close to the football coach of the school I work at. They approve of the lunches, I think he said... "I really hate eating this crap myself, but I'm glad the kids aren't loading up on junk food all day before practice." Someone else (who very much opposes the Obamas) tried to push his words toward something negative and brought up (just as others here have) "Aren't they sluggish and tired?" and the coach said, "No, they just do what they've always done, they bring protein shakes and bars to practice." He later went on to explain that before the kids would come to practice work out and be extremely tired afterwards. Now kids are coming, doing the same workouts and he's able to push them harder without that exhaustion.
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 09:17 Report this comment
You all want to complain, but it's your bad voting which allowed Governors like Brownback to cut the school budget which eventually cut the lunch budget. This required schools to start making less and less healthy choices in their menus, which lead someone needing to step in and say. I don't care if your school is struggling, stop giving these kids junk food to cut budgets. That's really all it has done.
mommy4
Saturday 15 September 2012 10:19 Report this comment
The school lunches are a joke. I have to pay for the lunches and then send money with my children for more food or send snacks to school for them because they are not getting enough to eat. I hear from my high school student that they are to have more salads and more vegetables. I agree that more vegetables is necessary...however salads are empty calories. Growing prepubescent children need double the calories in order for their bodies to grow. Without these calories their bodies will not grow properly therefore the less calories they are receiving will retard their growth and cause other problems. I find this sad. Also there are more children these days that are already smaller for their ages, and causing them to loose weight is only going to create more problems.
mommy4
Saturday 15 September 2012 10:20 Report this comment
More and more children are also taking ADHD medicines which suppresses appetites,(a side effect)children already have issues with eating enough and keeping weight maintained. I do have one of these children, at the beginning of the summer I was able to buy her size 8 youth shorts, now that it's time to get the jeans her size 5 jeans are fitting her, she is only nine and is small for age. This I have a real problem with. My child cannot grow properly without the proper nutritional intake. I do provide her with snacks that are healthy and meals. I think this issue really needs to be looked at from a nutritionist’s point of view and not from some person who thinks she can change obesity overnight.
SalinaSenior
Saturday 15 September 2012 11:23 Report this comment
The new federal nutrition standards are from nutritionists and other experts in this field. The Presidents wife did not make this, she is just promoting healthier school lunches and more exercise. It sounds to me like some are saying lets not change anything. So when the ten year olds have heart attacks and the 6 year olds gets diabetes, you should proudly look back to this time and say nothing could have been done to help prevent this.
mommy4
Saturday 15 September 2012 11:55 Report this comment
Maybe we should all provide snacks for the classroom for extra nutrition. The school could ask parents to provide a small snack such as peanut butter crackers for the class to share.I understand this could be costly to parents, but it would improve the "hunger jitters" children have in class. This is just an idea for parents and teachers to think about. We provide snacks for extra curricular activity groups such as boy/girl scouts, and some of the after school programs have snacks provided. If each child brings a snack to school for their class it would provide something for them. I know that the preschools in some districts do this and it works great.
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 12:29 Report this comment
SalinaSenior, you could not be more correct. People act as though Mrs. Obama specifically decided, "This is all your child should eat." No, instead they looked at what children needed and based it off of that. They ALSO attempted to work in the student's eating style.
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 12:29 Report this comment
For example, pizza, what kid doesn't love pizza? They changed the way the pizza was made, it's now made using whole wheat crusts, low-fat cheese, and low-sodium sauce. I also have had burgers, chicken sandwiches and many of the foods I grew up with recently in school lunches. The difference is, those buns on the hamburgers are now whole wheat, the ketchup I'm getting is lower on sodium, and where before I was only presented with a burger and ketchup, now I'm presented with tomato and lettuce as an option as well. Additionally french fries, (again who doesn't love fries!) they're not baked instead of fried, and again presented with low-sodium ketchup. They didn't suddenly start starving kids, if a child is starving they're doing it to themselves.
DamiStac
Saturday 15 September 2012 12:29 Report this comment
In my final note I will say this and I feel it is VERY important. I am a stubborn eater, I do not buy wheat bread at home, I will not eat crust on cold sandwiches, I do not eat rice. However, when I am at work (the school) and I have not brought a lunch from home I force myself to eat the food because I need energy to make it through the day. Now that I've been forced myself to eat those crappy crappy whole wheat buns for over a month, I find that it is not too terrible to get a whole grain bread when I go to subway vs the traditional Italian Herbs and Cheese bread I've been getting since it came out. The changes in my own dietary decisions due to eating these foods make me believe that the school lunch program changes CAN help kids.
Salinaksm
Saturday 15 September 2012 20:12 Report this comment
For those of you blaming Huelskamp and other concerned people for speaking out and showing concern over this; you have obviously missed the even bigger reports on this. Reports from multiple newspapers, nation wide, along with Reuters and The Associated Press. My point, Kansas isn't the only State that believes something needs to be done; besides, the schools are not here to babysit the kids and do the parents job. Responsibility and healthy eating/lifestyle begins at home not at school (if they learn it at home it will carry over to the other parts of their lives). One last thought, bring back PE and actually focus on, actually, teaching instead of spending 80% of the school year just to get the kids ready for a test.
horsisaz
Monday 17 September 2012 15:43 Report this comment
If BHO is reelected your kids better get used to eating less at school and at home.Them evil capitalist might say screw it and retire,like myself.Job makers and producers in this country will survive the Obamas if reelected.You dependent consumers won't in the log run.@damistac you might consider that rice thing.This country money and supplies comes from China.
troy
Monday 17 September 2012 21:42 Report this comment
Today for lunch my daughter had a small chicken leg and two little carrots. Let me say that again, "Today for lunch my daughter had a small chicken leg and two little carrots". I would love to see Michelle Obama eat a small chicken leg and two little carrots for lunch and not complain. Mrs. Obama looks like she could put away a bucket of KFC right quick and put a good dent in the taters and biscuits too. She has the hips of a woman who really enjoys dinner time. It's time for Mrs. Obama to throw in the towel, admit her mistake, and let our kids enjoy lunch time again.
caligrlnks
Monday 17 September 2012 22:46 Report this comment
My kids come home every day from school complaining about being hungry and not having enough to eat at school. I called the school and had them keep and eye on them at lunch time to see if they were actually eating their lunches. Sure enough, they ate every bit of it, came home, and said they were starving. No, my children are not obese, nor are they over weight. My son is 11 years old and it's about the time boys hit growth spurts. He needs more food than that. I began putting snacks inside their backpacks to help them through the day. NO ONE has the right to tell my child what they can and cannot eat - nor do they have the right to control my child's diet. Those are MY kids and if I feel they need more food to help with their growth spurts, then so be it. It will be healthy food, but it will be MORE food. Not the skimpy portions they have been handing out.
DamiStac
Tuesday 18 September 2012 17:33 Report this comment
Troy, you should enroll your child in a private school.
troy
Tuesday 18 September 2012 19:40 Report this comment
DamiStac: Not sending my kids to private school just so they can have a decent meal. Gov. Brownback has nothing to do with the poor meal situation at our school. All 50 states are being forced to adhere to the new policy. Is Gov. Brownback responsible that also? And no, you cannot blame it on George Bush. This situation rests completely on the current administration in Washington. This is one of those situations where you have to "Man Up" and admit your baby is ugly, no matter how much it hurts. Failure to do so will cause a further erosion of the amount of respect you recieve from others.
SalinaSenior
Wednesday 19 September 2012 13:45 Report this comment
The trolls have to ruin the debate for such an important issue. Thank you Troy and horsisaz!
taz69
Wednesday 19 September 2012 13:50 Report this comment
When I was in grade school, we went home for lunch. Sometimes we ate at Dillions cafeteria which is now the deli. In high school, if we didn't like the school menu, we ate at Godfathers pizza or Walgrens on our way to vo-tech. The only restaurants near 9th and Magnolia at the time. Central kids could eat at Elmore's. We didn't have buses except for the special kids and the parents worked, so we walked or rode bikes to school.
Bigo
Wednesday 19 September 2012 22:28 Report this comment
Simply don't but the school lunch. no where does it say you have to buy it
SimpleMan
Wednesday 3 October 2012 10:22 Report this comment
Congressman challenges USDA to follow own school lunch restrictions- http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/02/congressman-challenges-usda-to-follow-own-school-lunch-restrictions/
SimpleMan
Wednesday 3 October 2012 10:34 Report this comment
Bigo- "Simply don't but the school lunch. no where does it say you have to buy it" Sure 'bout that? Schools Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-school-lunch-restrictions-041120110410,0,4567867.story
SimpleMan
Wednesday 3 October 2012 10:40 Report this comment
Nanny state report: NC school officials reject preschooler’s homemade lunch- http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/14/nanny-state-report-nc-school-officials-confiscate-preschoolers-homemade-lunch/ A North Carolina elementary school forced a preschool student to eat cafeteria chicken nuggets for lunch on Jan. 30 after officials reportedly determined that her homemade meal wasn’t up to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s standards for healthfulness, according to a report from the Carolina Journal. The newspaper reported that the four-year-old girl brought a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, potato chips and apple juice in her packed lunch from home. That meal didn’t meet with approval from the government agent who was on site inspecting kids’ lunches that day.
aschosh
Tuesday 23 October 2012 09:29 Report this comment
Biggest question is: what is to keep these kids from going through a drive-thru after school and getting an unhealthy cheeseburger because school lunch didn't fill them up. Isn't it better to give them slightly unhealthy food at school and get their tummy's full rather than send them home hungry to fill up on whatever they can find? The kids that are overweight are that way because of what they get at home. If the home meal doesn't change, then they will still be overweight. One meal a day at school is not going to make a vast difference in childhood obesity! If they don't get these healthy choices at home as well, then nothing is going to change. So until they make the healthier choices cheaper for families that are struggling, they aren't going to see much of a change in childhood obesity! They go home hungry and fill up on junk. When healthy choices aren't available at home, things aren't going to change!!!!!
SimpleMan
Saturday 3 November 2012 08:17 Report this comment
Bring back Kansas Chatter!