Congress takes aim at unhealthy school lunches

[The Straight Story]

Congress takes aim at unhealthy school lunches

By MARY CLARE JALONICK (AP) – 31 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — Kids will always grab pizza and dessert in the school lunch line, but those items may be healthier in coming school years if Democrats in Congress succeed in toughening rules governing the nation's school lunches.

Legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Agriculture Committee would allow the Agriculture Department to create new standards for all foods in schools, including vending machine items, to give students healthier meal options. The legislation would spend $4.5 billion more over 10 years for nutrition programs.

New standards are not expected to push popular foods off the cafeteria line completely, just to make them healthier. For example, pizza may be made with whole wheat crust and low-fat mozzarella, while desserts could have fewer calories. Hamburgers could be made with leaner meat, and vending machines could be stocked with less candy and fewer high-calorie sodas.

The legislation would also expand the number of low-income children eligible for free or reduced cost meals, a step Democrats say would help President Barack Obama reach his goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRPn29xnda-NwWb6SFlZGHczL6PgD9EL78FO0

[zipplewrath]

1. I'm surprised

One would think congress didn't want to go near anything that had the word "health" in it.

[frazzled]

2. As long as they don't classify ketchup as a vegetable again

The school lunches were so horrible even in my kids' elementary and high school days (not that long ago ... they are in their mid-twenties) that they refused to eat them. That meant dad and mom had to pack a lunch for them every day for many years. Heck, at least it was a turkey or peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat and an apple.

[bobbolink]

3. Good news! Now, first off---get rid of High Fructose Corn Syrup in EVERYTHING!!

That would be a wonderful first step.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HuckleB]

5. That's fine, but it's time to bring back recess and PE!

And cut the homework for the early grades. Kids need to be able to play and be active.

[MissB]

7. Yep. My kids get at least two recesses a day plus lunch recess.

And they get a PE class three days a week.

We choose to pack lunches, but the school rejects federal monies for lunches and instead contracts out the production of lunches to someone who uses locally sourced organic food. Gluten free and dairy free options are available too.

Another school in a neighboring district has an all you can eat table
set up with veggies and fruits- free- which I think is a splendid idea.

[HuckleB]

9. That's good news.

I know too many teachers who work for districts where recess does not exist, and PE can be as little as one day a week.

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

6. Hah, the cynic in me says that by the time they do this

there won't even *be* any public schools anymore!

[LWolf]

8. Why not just get rid of the junk altogether?

Water in vending machines. Fresh food, cooked on-site. No junk.

Why not?