Don’t Blame

The School Lunch Program

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to an article in last week’s Bee titled “School Lunches — A National Security Threat?”

Another article poised at blaming the school lunch programs for today’s young people being overweight.

I would like to defend the school lunch program at the elementary level and what is offered to these young people. Everyday fresh fruits and vegetables are offered as part of the school lunch. Everyday I see kids decline both, and instead opt to take an additional serving of the main entrée. Everyday I see kids ordering a second serving of the main entrée just because their friend did. Everyday I see kids who can’t identify a pea from a bean or a pear from an apple. So instead, they just pass them by because they don’t know what it is. Everyday I see kids who don’t have a complete meal on their tray, and when I tell them they can take a fruit or vegetable to complete their meal I get an eye roll.

Instead of blaming the school lunch program, how about passing the responsibility to the parents of these young people. Parents are the ones who supply them with the money to buy double entrée, to buy snack and to buy double milk. Is it not a parent’s responsibility to teach them to eat healthy and introduce fruits and vegetable at home? Is it not the responsibility of the parents to check to see what their child is purchasing for lunch?

School lunches can be a healthy choice for young people today if they choose a regular size entrée and the fruits and vegetables that are provided for them. The problem becomes when the parents allow them to purchase a double order of pizza, french toast sticks, chicken nuggets, or pizza dippers.

Where are the healthy choices there?

Lorraine vanVeen

8 Scenic View Drive, Newtown April 27, 2010