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Thursday, April 26, 2007
To Eat Or Not To Eat, That Is The Question
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I always like eating in school cafeterias. Sure, the food’s only so-so, but what fascinates me is seeing what kids are eating these days.
If you haven’t visited a high school in a while, you might be surprised to find that nowadays students buy Chick-fil-A sandwiches direct from the cafeteria lady. Sometimes there are salad bars, too. But, from what I’ve seen, the teens lining up there are just getting ranch dressing to slather on their pizza.
Of course, schools try to provide nutritious lunches, and those meals that are paid for with federal funds must meet specific dietary standards. But principals allow other foods to be sold, too — usually at the snack bar or a la carte line. That’s where students get their daily Chick-fil-A or pizza fix and French fries.
It’s also the place that always has the longest line.
Now, another national organization trying to expand the choices for nutritional breakfasts and lunches in schools, is taking aim at those so-called competitive foods — saying administrators should cut them out altogether or make sure that the offerings only consist of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nonfat or low-fat dairy products.
But this ignores one very practical issue that well-meaning cafeteria managers tell me they bump up against every day. That is, if kids don’t like their choices, they simply won’t eat.
So what’s more important to the parent and teacher: A child with a belly full of food or a cafeteria full of uneaten carrots?
