A lot has changed over the years within school lunch programs. You might be pleasantly surprised by the lunch program offered at your child’s school, and if you’re not, there are ways to take an active role in bringing about valuable reforms. It’s important to know what you can (and should!) expect from your school lunch program, how much it should cost, and how to get started pursuing any changes you’d like to see.
What does today’s school lunch look like?
With growing national concern with obesity and developing good eating habits early, a lot of changes have been made to the typical school lunch menu. More emphasis have been given to fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Salad bars are becoming increasingly common. Baking food rather than frying is seeing an upturn, and in general healthier cooking and preparation standards are being raised. National School Lunch Program lunches now have to meet federal guidelines for nutrition. Some of these guidelines include limiting fat, maintaining appropriate portion sizes, and providing recommended amounts of vitamins, proteins, dairies, grains, fruits and vegetables. Each school lunch will contain milk, a vegetable, fruit, grains, and meat or a meat alternative.
How much will the school lunch program cost me?
Taking advantage of the school lunch program can be a good choice financially as well as nutritionally. According to the School Nutrition Association, the average cost for a school lunch was just over two dollars. That’s a pretty good deal, considering the average cost of packing a lunch yourself will cost you, on average, almost three and a half dollars. If you’re in a low income bracket, you can also apply for free or reduced-price lunches. If your family is at 130% of the poverty level or below, you’ll be able to get free lunches. If you’re between 130% and 185% of the poverty level, you can qualify for reduced price lunches. In that case, each meal will cost at or below 40 cents.
How can I get my child’s school to serve healthier lunches?
If you have concerns about the food being served at your child’s school, the first step you should take is to get in contact with the school’s food service director. Before you meet with the food service director, there are a few things you should do in order to come in prepared. First, make sure to visit the school cafeteria yourself. Seeing firsthand exactly what your child’s options are will help you point out specific areas in which you’d like to see change. You can also try talking to the parents of other children at the school to see how they feel about the program, and if they’d be willing to join you in petitioning for changes. Once you’ve taken these steps, make an appointment to speak with the school’s food service director. It might help to write down everything you wanted to address before you go in, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything or glossing over things too generally.
Being proactive about your child’s school lunch program can be a very rewarding experience, not just for your own child, but for your whole community. Stay informed and involved, and remember that together, you and your child’s school can be partners in your child’s nutrition!