Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

[Ernie S.]

What trip me out the most is that you guys think that there was a "Food Inspector"

Think about it again--from a parents point of view. A parent with a picky-eater for a kid!

Either someone stole the girls lunch or she traded/sold it away. The story reeks with fiction that excites a right-wingers fascination with socialism.

Translation: "I don't like the story's implications, so it must not be true."

More like "The little girl may be getting bullied or is selling/giving away her lunch and lied to her parents to get them off her back"


Find this "Food Inspector" and arrest him/her for theft, IF YOU CAN!

Does that make you feel better about your gods that simply accepting the story as true? Are you calling a 5 year old little girl a liar?

 

[Inthemiddle]

What gives you the right to decide what a 'reasonable meal' is and then to undermine the autority of the parent?

Well, common sense goes a long way. If a 7 year old comes with a ham and cheese sandwich and a drink, then well enough. If an 11 year old comes with half a sandwich and nothing else, then there's a problem. Or if a kid comes with nothing but a twinkie and a coke, then obviously there's a problem. Common sense tells you that that's not enough to sustain a kid through the day. If that's all the parent sends them with, I'll tell them they need to send more.

The main thing, though, is whether or not the kid is left hungry. Even if a kid comes in every day with a ham and cheese sandwich, a juice, and a bag of chips, if they are still hungry every day and are constantly asking me if they can have an apple or something, then I'll tell the parent that what they are packing doesn't seem to be enough. I'd suggest that they pack two sandwiches. I'll point out that they are asking me for an apple on a daily basis, and suggest that since their child seems to like apples they might pack an apple with their lunch. This isn't rocket science. I'm really not talking about micro managing what the parents feed their kids. But when the child is clearly being sent in without enough food in their lunch, the matter starts to turn into neglect.

 

[Zander]

Let's force kids to eat the brains, eyeballs, spleen, and chicken guts paste....yummy!!!

http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/208352-chicken-nuggets.html

 

[The T]

What trip me out the most is that you guys think that there was a "Food Inspector"

Think about it again--from a parents point of view. A parent with a picky-eater for a kid!

Either someone stole the girls lunch or she traded/sold it away. The story reeks with fiction that excites a right-wingers fascination with socialism.

Wrong. Some bureacrat arrive at the school lunch room specifically to inspect lunches and told her the one she had was not acceptable, and they forced her to take a school lunch. The parents are also forced to pay for it.

If Io were that parent? I'd take these asses to court.

 

[The Gadfly]

What gives you the right to decide what a 'reasonable meal' is and then to undermine the autority of the parent?

Well, common sense goes a long way. If a 7 year old comes with a ham and cheese sandwich and a drink, then well enough. If an 11 year old comes with half a sandwich and nothing else, then there's a problem. Or if a kid comes with nothing but a twinkie and a coke, then obviously there's a problem. Common sense tells you that that's not enough to sustain a kid through the day. If that's all the parent sends them with, I'll tell them they need to send more.

The main thing, though, is whether or not the kid is left hungry. Even if a kid comes in every day with a ham and cheese sandwich, a juice, and a bag of chips, if they are still hungry every day and are constantly asking me if they can have an apple or something, then I'll tell the parent that what they are packing doesn't seem to be enough. I'd suggest that they pack two sandwiches. I'll point out that they are asking me for an apple on a daily basis, and suggest that since their child seems to like apples they might pack an apple with their lunch. This isn't rocket science. I'm really not talking about micro managing what the parents feed their kids. But when the child is clearly being sent in without enough food in their lunch, the matter starts to turn into neglect.

That's all well and good, but that is NOT what is alleged to have occurred in this instance. What we have, here, is a state-employed bureaucrat making a decision he/she had no right to make, and doing it badly, at that.If I were a parent involved in something like this, I (or my attorney) would be calling the state agency involved, and demanding accountability-because if a bureaucrat is going to be allowed to make such a decision, they better damn well be accountable for it! Sounds to me like some overzealous government drone needs to be firmly told where the line is, and there needs to be an apology issued. Failing that (as much as I hate litigating everything), there needs to be a lawsuit.

 

[GoneBezerk]

Liberals doing their typical bullshit on others....

 

[cruisemomma]

The Lunch Confiscattion occured in North Carolina, not in Chicago. It was taken away by a Federal Employee, not a state employee. All Pre-school Programs are funded by the Feds, not the states. The girls' teacher (a state employee) did not take her lunch; it was taken away by a Federal Food Inspector, hired by the Federal Government.

The Federal agent broke several laws:
1) Invaded the privacy of a 4-year old girl
2) Stole property from a 4-year old girl
3) Destroyed the Property of a 4-year old girl.

So if there's any way I can contribute to a legal fund for this Pre-Schooler's family, I will be happy to do so!

 

[bripat9643]

What gives you the right to decide what a 'reasonable meal' is and then to undermine the autority of the parent?

Well, common sense goes a long way. If a 7 year old comes with a ham and cheese sandwich and a drink, then well enough. If an 11 year old comes with half a sandwich and nothing else, then there's a problem. Or if a kid comes with nothing but a twinkie and a coke, then obviously there's a problem. Common sense tells you that that's not enough to sustain a kid through the day. If that's all the parent sends them with, I'll tell them they need to send more.

The main thing, though, is whether or not the kid is left hungry. Even if a kid comes in every day with a ham and cheese sandwich, a juice, and a bag of chips, if they are still hungry every day and are constantly asking me if they can have an apple or something, then I'll tell the parent that what they are packing doesn't seem to be enough. I'd suggest that they pack two sandwiches. I'll point out that they are asking me for an apple on a daily basis, and suggest that since their child seems to like apples they might pack an apple with their lunch. This isn't rocket science. I'm really not talking about micro managing what the parents feed their kids. But when the child is clearly being sent in without enough food in their lunch, the matter starts to turn into neglect.

I've never seen such a beautiful display of the nanny-state mentality. You just can't grock the concept that perhaps the parent knows what is best for the child. You just can't wait to inflict all kinds of rules on the parents.

I wanted to throw up when I read that.

 

[The T]

Liberals doing their typical bullshit on others....

And whine like little babies when things get turned on them...then they cry 'Constitution' when it suits them.

 

[tinydancer]

What trip me out the most is that you guys think that there was a "Food Inspector"

Think about it again--from a parents point of view. A parent with a picky-eater for a kid!

Either someone stole the girls lunch or she traded/sold it away. The story reeks with fiction that excites a right-wingers fascination with socialism.

I already gave you a link. It was a State agent inspecting the childrens lunches.

How many times do you need to be shown proof or do you just like spewing garbage?

 

[tinydancer]

What trip me out the most is that you guys think that there was a "Food Inspector"

Think about it again--from a parents point of view. A parent with a picky-eater for a kid!

Either someone stole the girls lunch or she traded/sold it away. The story reeks with fiction that excites a right-wingers fascination with socialism.

Here you go sparky.

RAEFORD — A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School ate three chicken nuggets for lunch Jan. 30because a state employee told her the lunch her mother packed was not nutritious.

The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the agent who was inspecting all lunch boxes in her More at Four classroom that day.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.

When home-packed lunches do not include all of the required items, child care providers must supplement them with the missing ones.

The girl’s mother — who said she wishes to remain anonymous to protect her daughter from retaliation — said she received a note from the school stating that students who did not bring a “healthy lunch” would be offered the missing portions, which could result in a fee from the cafeteria, in her case $1.25.

“I don't feel that I should pay for a cafeteria lunch when I provide lunch for her from home,” the mother wrote in a complaint to her state representative, Republican G.L. Pridgen of Robeson County.

The girl’s grandmother, who sometimes helps pack her lunch, told Carolina Journal that she is a petite, picky 4-year-old who eats white whole wheat bread and is not big on vegetables.

“What got me so mad is, number one, don’t tell my kid I’m not packing her lunch box properly,” the girl’s mother told CJ. “I pack her lunchbox according to what she eats. It always consists of a fruit. It never consists of a vegetable. She eats vegetables at home because I have to watch her because she doesn’t really care for vegetables.”

Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

 

[Cowman]

Nanny state at its finest

Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School ate three chicken nuggets for lunch Jan. 30 because a state employee told her the lunch her mother packed was not nutritious.

The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the agent who was inspecting all lunch boxes in her More at Four classroom that day.

....

Thank you Jamie Oliver... I mean Amelia. I didn't know you were such a bleeding heart liberal.

 

[Amelia]

Nanny state at its finest

Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School ate three chicken nuggets for lunch Jan. 30 because a state employee told her the lunch her mother packed was not nutritious.

The girl’s turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, according to the interpretation of the agent who was inspecting all lunch boxes in her More at Four classroom that day.

....

Thank you Jamie Oliver... I mean Amelia. I didn't know you were such a bleeding liberal.

A. Bleeding liberal?
B. I doubt you know much about me.


So what clever twist are you going to apply to my OP to call it evidence that I'm a "bleeding liberal"?

 

[Cowman]

Nanny state at its finest

Preschooler’s Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria “Nuggets”

Thank you Jamie Oliver... I mean Amelia. I didn't know you were such a bleeding liberal.

A. Bleeding liberal?
B. I doubt you know much about me.


So what clever twist are you going to apply to my OP to call it evidence that I'm a "bleeding liberal"?

Oh I dunno... something about people like Jamie Oliver's crusade on school lunches. Example being his television show Food Revolution. People consider those like him to be incredibly liberal wanting to change how our children eat in school... eating all sorts of healthy stuff.

Bless your heart, Amelia! I too am against chicken nuggets in school cafeteria food!

Oh and I meant 'bleeding heart liberal'. I'll edit it.

 

[Inthemiddle]

That's all well and good, but that is NOT what is alleged to have occurred in this instance.

You're right. But I wasn't talking about what was alleged to have occurred in this instance. Newby decided to jump into a side bar and get an attitude with me about the way I do my job. I'm just setting him straight.

 

[Inthemiddle]

I've never seen such a beautiful display of the nanny-state mentality. You just can't grock the concept that perhaps the parent knows what is best for the child. You just can't wait to inflict all kinds of rules on the parents.

I wanted to throw up when I read that.

Oh, blah, blah, blah. There's nothing "nanny state" about an individual knowing the difference between the parameters of normal discretion, and gross negligence and mistreatment. All I'm doing is doing my job to watch out for the children's well being and protect my employer's interests by minimizing liabilities. When a parent smacks their child on the hand, that's their discretion to discipline their child. When a parent beats their child with metal pipe and breaks their bones, that's mistreatment.

Obviously you weren't paying attention. I clearly explained that I have no interest in micro managing parents' decisions in raising their children. I'm sure you're ready to jump to all kinds of conclusions about me dictating all kinds of specific details, or some bullshit like that. But again, all I said is that I deal with common sense to identify things that are clearly problematic, and address them. Sometimes it can be a matter of honestly good intentions being mistaken. The child might not be telling the parent that they are hungry every day because they aren't getting enough for lunch. The child might not be telling the parent that he doesn't like like what's being packed and that's why he only asks for half a sandwich. There's alot of different ways this stuff can go. We've also had times when parents sent their kids with inadequate lunches because the family lives on a limited budget.

Obviously you've never worked with children before in any capacity. In these kinds of jobs, we don't tell parents how to raise their children. We work with parents to do the best job possible to make sure that the child is getting as much of what they need as possible. So, that might mean that in order to make sure that the child comes to camp with an adequate lunch every day, I have to work with the finance dept to try to get a scholarship funded for this child to be able to come to camp, so that his family will have more money with which to buy groceries. At times, it has meant that we have had to seek out funding to provide daily lunches to the kids, so that all the parents had to provide was their morning and afternoon snack. At times, it's as simple as letting the parents know that their kid complains about being hungry every day, because the kid might be telling the parent a different story. It could be as simple as a single mother who works several jobs and scarcely has time to notice that her picky eater of a child doesn't like what she's packing. There are all kinds of scenarios that are possible. But nothing can be accomplished UNLESS I TALK TO THE PARENTS.

I'm very good at my job, I've been doing this kind of work for a long time, and the fact that you are disgusted that I'm dedicated, and that you assume that my mere diligence is somehow a "nanny state" mentality just goes to show that you don't have the first clue what working with children is all about.

 

[grunt11b]

you have GOT to be fucking kidding me.

If 'I' provide a lunch for my child, NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE has a right to over rule me on what I put in it. Period.

If they want to govern what THEY provide, by all means, they can do so. But they should not be able to govern what 'I' provide to my child.

To be fair, from what the article says, it sounds more like the idea behind the regulation is that if a child doesn't have a balanced meal, the school is supposed to provide additional items for the child. They're not allowed to take the lunch away. But still, that means that this is a horrible failure of execution and implementation of the law. If the state is going to do this, they have a responsibility to do it right.

Maybe the people working the cafeteria are teachers union members and the school board are scared to death that if kids bring there own meals in they could no longer justify keeping them hired and in the end lose those union dues.

 

[grunt11b]

So three chicken nuggets are more nutritious than apple juice, a banana and a turkey and cheese sandwich? In what universe?

Only in the nanny state can this thought process be possible. Maybe they want our kids to be fat and lazy nonproductive citizens......kinda like alot of there constituents eh?

 

[grunt11b]

Liberals can't justify their own existence without advocating that they control what others do.

Uhhhhh...... North Carolina is a RED STATE.

Wana try again?

I dont care if it is a purple green and pink state, progressive nanny staters have no colors, it's wrong no matter what.

 

[grunt11b]

Uhhhhh...... North Carolina is a RED STATE.

Wana try again?

Then why did Obama carry North Carolina in 2008?

North Carolina - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times

obama is black. North Carolina has to prove they weren't racist. That won't be an issue next time.

It was only a matter of time before that ignorance flew out of someones mouth.