‘Healthier’ school lunch at what cost?

[chanel]

Under regulations proposed this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would have the final say on what students eat. Educators fear the guidelines, trumpeted by first lady Michelle Obama and others as a key to curbing childhood obesity, will take a huge bite out of school budgets while resulting in “healthier” meals that make youngsters turn up their noses.

“Under the proposed rule, school meals would become so restrictive they would be unpalatable to many students,” said Karen Castaneda, director of food service at Pennridge School District in Perkasie, Pa.

For example, Ms. Castaneda said, the proposed sodium restrictions for student lunches resemble diets previously reserved for those battling serious illnesses such as kidney disease.

The American Association of School Administrators has called the plan a “direct unfunded mandate” imposed on school districts. The National School Boards Association on Friday released a statement saying it is “gravely concerned about the financial impact the law could have on school districts at a time when many are in dire economic straits.”

“Two years after implementation, the cost of a school breakfast may increase by more than 25 cents. The cost of a school lunch will have increased by more than 7 cents,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who chairs the House subcommittee focusing on primary and secondary education issues. “The total compliance costs will reach $6.8 billion by 2016, costs that will fall heavily on states and schools.”

'Healthier' school lunch at what cost? - Washington Times

This may actually help the obesity epidemic. Kids will refrain from eating all day and get real skinny. Of course their brains will shrink as well... Hey - Maybe that's the real agenda.

 

[Mad Scientist]

All knowing, All seeing, All caring Government knows what your little ones (who really belong to the State anyway) should be eating.

OBEY!

 

[Ravi]

I don't get you chanel.... in one thread you are against schools admitting whomever they please and on another thread you are for schools serving whatever they please.

You seem to want the federal government involved only when it suits your viewpoint.

 

[jillian]

I don't get you chanel.... in one thread you are against schools admitting whomever they please and on another thread you are for schools serving whatever they please.

You seem to want the federal government involved only when it suits your viewpoint.

bazinga!

 

[signelect]

Parents should have the right to chose what their children eat. If they don't like the school lunch program then pack them one if you are not too lazy. Kids are eating poorly and exerciseing less that is why we have the weight problem..

 

[Bfgrn]

Under regulations proposed this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would have the final say on what students eat. Educators fear the guidelines, trumpeted by first lady Michelle Obama and others as a key to curbing childhood obesity, will take a huge bite out of school budgets while resulting in “healthier” meals that make youngsters turn up their noses.

“Under the proposed rule, school meals would become so restrictive they would be unpalatable to many students,” said Karen Castaneda, director of food service at Pennridge School District in Perkasie, Pa.

For example, Ms. Castaneda said, the proposed sodium restrictions for student lunches resemble diets previously reserved for those battling serious illnesses such as kidney disease.

The American Association of School Administrators has called the plan a “direct unfunded mandate” imposed on school districts. The National School Boards Association on Friday released a statement saying it is “gravely concerned about the financial impact the law could have on school districts at a time when many are in dire economic straits.”

“Two years after implementation, the cost of a school breakfast may increase by more than 25 cents. The cost of a school lunch will have increased by more than 7 cents,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who chairs the House subcommittee focusing on primary and secondary education issues. “The total compliance costs will reach $6.8 billion by 2016, costs that will fall heavily on states and schools.”

'Healthier' school lunch at what cost? - Washington Times

This may actually help the obesity epidemic. Kids will refrain from eating all day and get real skinny. Of course their brains will shrink as well... Hey - Maybe that's the real agenda.

Increasing obesity rate related to increased cost to society
Morbidities associated with obesity are also associated with high medical costs for care.

by Saad Shebrain, MD; Brant K. Oelschlager, MD

Obesity is a global epidemic according to World Health Organization reports. There are more than 1 billion overweight (BMI 25–29.9) adults, and at least 300 million of them are obese (BMI > 30) compared with 850 million who are chronically underweight (malnutrition and hunger). The United States ranks number one in the world in rates of overweight and obese individuals per capita, estimated in 2004 at 64.5% of the population; Mexico (62.3%), the United Kingdom (61%) and Australia (58.4%) follow close behind. The lowest percentages are recorded in Japan (25.8%) and Korea (30.6%).

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health addressed the prevalence of obesity and found the U.S. obesity rate has increased at an alarming rate over the past three decades, according to results of a recent study. The researchers expect that by 2030, 86% of U.S. adults will be overweight or obese, with related health care spending projected to be as much as $956.9 billion. They concluded that without a change in people’s eating habits or exercise habits, the figures will continue climbing to a public crisis.

Increasing obesity rate related to increased cost to society

Medical care costs in the U.S. have not always been this excessive. This year, we will spend more than $2.5 trillion on medical care. But in 1950, five years before Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant, Americans only spent $8.4 billion ($70 billion in today's dollars). Even after adjusting for inflation, we now spend as much on health care every 10 days as we did in the entire year of 1950.

Has this enormous increase in spending made us healthier? Earlier this year, when the World Health Organization assessed the overall health outcomes of different nations, it placed 36 other nations ahead of the United States.

Today, we have an epidemic of largely preventable diseases. To these illnesses, Americans are losing not only their health but also their life savings. Meanwhile, the evidence keeps growing that the path to improved health lies in eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, and eating far less processed foods, sugars and animal products. ref

 

[konradv]

Parents should have the right to chose what their children eat. If they don't like the school lunch program then pack them one if you are not too lazy. Kids are eating poorly and exerciseing less that is why we have the weight problem..

The schools don't have to be enablers. It's wierd that those who don't like the government telling them what to do, seem to be OK with the government feeding the children CRAP!!!

 

[chanel]

I don't get you chanel.... in one thread you are against schools admitting whomever they please and on another thread you are for schools serving whatever they please.

You seem to want the federal government involved only when it suits your viewpoint.

The right to an education is guaranteed. Where I have I stated that I am against "schools admitting whomever they please"? Link please.

 

[chanel]

Show us the science Mrs. Obama. People may be willing to pay an extra couple a billion dollars if grossing kids out is proven to solve this health issue. Thank you in advance.

1. There is no data showing that school lunches make kids fat. Many of them start Kindergarten that way.
2. There is sketchy data on whether sodium is unhealthy in young people.
3. There will be serious unintended consequences. Namely - hungry kids.
4. Billions may be wasted.
5, Fat kids can still bring in their own lunches (except in Chicago)
6. Fat kids will be held responsible for the new regs, resulting in more bullying. "Hey chubbie. It's your fault this food sucks! You've ruined it for everyone!"

Not every problem can be solved by the govt. And the schools have enough problems right now.

 

[Zoom-boing]

Under regulations proposed this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would have the final say on what students eat.

Who has the final say now? Who makes the decision on what gets served now?

“Under the proposed rule, school meals would become so restrictive they would be unpalatable to many students,” said Karen Castaneda, director of food service at Pennridge School District in Perkasie, Pa.

Healthier does not have to mean bland. I prepare dinner every night without adding tons of salt and processed crap and it tastes and is good. If I made the recipe to feed 5 or 500 it would still taste good and be good for you.

Instead of increasing the servings of fruits/veggies (which the kids dont' seem to touch), why don't they keep those servings the same and have the schools just eliminate all the crap? That'd be a good start.

The regulations would also require schools to spend more money for fresh fruits and vegetables. Many districts now serve cheaper canned fruits or frozen vegetables.

Nonsense. Instead of requiring fresh, change the cooking method to ensure better nutrition. ex., steam the frozen veggies rather than boil. Prepackaged fries are crap; fresh sliced spuds sprinkled with some evvo and seasonings and baked in the oven are good tasting and good for you. Nothing is wrong with canned fruit, just don't buy the 'heavy syrup' kind, have the 'in it's own juice' kind. Simple, common sense changes. Yeah I know . . .won't never happen.

 

[chanel]

But, but, but zoom. There may be sodium. There may be 6 kids on dialysis who can't eat it.

 

[Zoom-boing]

But, but, but zoom. There may be sodium. There may be 6 kids on dialysis who can't eat it.

Silly me! I forgot the mantra . . . the few shall always get their way, screw the many (and common sense).

 

[hipeter924]

The government cares about the school system? I thought all it cared about was privatization of all schools and selling them to corporations.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9BnNO4Y96w&feature=related]YouTube - ‪Why a Michigan high school is ground zero for US politics‬‏[/ame]

 

[AdvaPointSolar]

Vegetables and fruits are the best!

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I remember the school lunches from my day. So much of the "good" stuff was tossed. Every thursday was Spinach day, and Popeye the sailor or no, 98% of the spinach found its way to the garbage cans.

When my kids were in grade school the means were a lot more sparse, but also a lot healthier. There was more fresh fruit and less cheese and meat. The amount of food thrown away was a lot less.

Kids will eat fresh fruit and vegetables. My son, weirdo that he is, loves fresh broccoli. The advantage to fresh stuff is there is less sodium and sugar which does cause problems.

 

[Moonglow]

I don't get you chanel.... in one thread you are against schools admitting whomever they please and on another thread you are for schools serving whatever they please.

You seem to want the federal government involved only when it suits your viewpoint.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThhfLvR4Wo8]‪There's very little meat in these gym mats‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

 

[HenryBHough]

TSA hungers for a new mission.

Here's their opportunity. They get to grope every child daily to make sure they're not taking contraband baloney sandwiches into school. Which is only right; they get enough baloney there to last a lifetime. Indeed, some never recover and grow into rote-speak Liberals.

 

[Moonglow]

TSA hungers for a new mission.

Here's their opportunity. They get to grope every child daily to make sure they're not taking contraband baloney sandwiches into school. Which is only right; they get enough baloney there to last a lifetime. Indeed, some never recover and grow into rote-speak Liberals.

or christ sucking conservatives.

 

[HenryBHough]

or christ sucking conservatives.

You actually found a school somewhere in America that isn't exclusively programmed by Godless Liberals?

Share, damnit, share!!!!

 

[Trajan]

Under regulations proposed this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would have the final say on what students eat. Educators fear the guidelines, trumpeted by first lady Michelle Obama and others as a key to curbing childhood obesity, will take a huge bite out of school budgets while resulting in “healthier” meals that make youngsters turn up their noses.

“Under the proposed rule, school meals would become so restrictive they would be unpalatable to many students,” said Karen Castaneda, director of food service at Pennridge School District in Perkasie, Pa.

For example, Ms. Castaneda said, the proposed sodium restrictions for student lunches resemble diets previously reserved for those battling serious illnesses such as kidney disease.

The American Association of School Administrators has called the plan a “direct unfunded mandate” imposed on school districts. The National School Boards Association on Friday released a statement saying it is “gravely concerned about the financial impact the law could have on school districts at a time when many are in dire economic straits.”

“Two years after implementation, the cost of a school breakfast may increase by more than 25 cents. The cost of a school lunch will have increased by more than 7 cents,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who chairs the House subcommittee focusing on primary and secondary education issues. “The total compliance costs will reach $6.8 billion by 2016, costs that will fall heavily on states and schools.”

'Healthier' school lunch at what cost? - Washington Times

This may actually help the obesity epidemic. Kids will refrain from eating all day and get real skinny. Of course their brains will shrink as well... Hey - Maybe that's the real agenda.

Hi Chanel...I hear you.

when Michelle O. got her 4.5 Billion dollar The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed I posted several l articles and links, some even from the brooking s int.s a left of center think tank, to wit;

this will make approx. 10.5 BILLION a year we spend on school food prgms. and?
they are not very well managed, waste is astronomical and, child obesity in the range they ascribe to improve has ballooned ( pun intended ) from 9% in the 60's to over 30% now.....all while we jack up the cost of the prgm.s, now some school districts wherein it is sure to follow elsewhere, will be serving not only a breakfast and lunch, but dinner too.

I am all for keeping kids from being hungry, but this? This is the usual nanny state top down mgt. via " throw money at it..."

maybe we should just install beds in the gyms ( becasue we don't really enforce PE anymore) or on playgrounds that are being slowly eased out too, and just have the schools raise the kids.....