Simply unreal. I know what the food looks like on the plates at the schools I teach at, not as bad as that picture. However, I wouldn't want to eat their weird burgers, slimy deli meats and unidentifiable cheese selections and that's in a high school. I'd estimate that 20-30% of the kids buy lunch at school, the rest brown bag or 'excuse me' green bag it.
Sitting in a consumer class the other day and they were talking about nutrition and lunches came up. Now the kids admitted that they have 'choices' they didn't in elementary school, problem is while they sounded good at orientation, the food sucks. So they save money, I'm guessing a lot of them get daily lunch money (3.50) from their folks, then make their own.
By far and away they make sandwiches, the boys often two. Many are vegetarian or watch the mean intake. Lots of whole wheat pitas and specialty rolls. They can add the condiments from school and pack veggies, meats, etc., separately from bread and they do. Still see lots of fruit rollups, fresh fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese w/fruit. Quite a few pack salad, some in sizes that would feed a family of 4! They pack the salad dressing separately. Yes, there's the Fritos and Doritos, but not nearly as much as you'd think. Cookies tend to come in those 100 calorie packs.
I know my kids always packed their lunches or better yet, for them, got me to do so. Of course I did in grammar school. I don't eat the lunches at school as a teacher and yes, ours are less expensive than the cafeteria! I make my own. Now yes, teachers have microwave available, which means I don't have to go sandwich or salad, usually use some from the packed in freezer stuff.
I do remember that in grammar school it was important that lunches not be 'stinky', meaning no tuna or bananas, even if the kids loved them. Usually it was a sandwich of some roast or chicken or pork sliced on bread with condiments. As they got older sometimes it was soup or stew in thermos. An apple or peeled orange. Carrot discs or sticks-thin! Ranch dressing to dip. Chips/pretzels/goldfish and cookies. Sunny D or Gator Ade, depending on the kid. They would not drink the milk at school. One son for 2 years or so wanted milk with ice cubes in thermos-we did that. At some point it crossed into stinky category.
What they ate and what they threw away? I've no idea. But I know it was less than if they'd bought the slop at school.
I've said before, the schools tend to put the pop machines out of the way and they charge $1.60 now for those bottles with twist cap. Water and juices are $1.00. Few take the pop. Teachers do and the same bottle is .95 in lounge, so there you go. LOL!
The pic actually has tater tots and that infamous orange government cheese product...
