Healthy Options

In The School Cafeteria

To The Editor:

In response to the article printed in the April 23 edition of The Bee, “School Lunches — A National Security Threat?”, I am absolutely astounded that anyone could lay blame on a school lunch program for producing overweight young adults who are unfit to serve in the military. I am equally amazed that a newspaper that is published in and for the Newtown community would publish such a story without offering information on the Newtown lunch program and the fact that this program offers the healthier choices than the officers’ group is attempting to get Congress to pass on a national level.

As a food service worker at the elementary school level, I assure you that the food I prepare for your children is a far better choice nutritionally than much of the food they eat elsewhere. Each day children are offered both fresh vegetables (baby carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, etc) and steamed (frozen) vegetables as well as a variety of fresh and canned fruit. They are encouraged to take these selections as part of their meal. Many of the meals offer products prepared with or from whole grains. All children buying “school lunch” are required to have items from three of the five food groups on their tray to qualify it as a lunch. Everything is measured appropriately so that children are being served normal portion sizes. All items offered are clearly outlined in a menu that is available to parents either by distribution to children to take home (if school chooses this method) or by visiting the website (which can be done through the school’s home page). Additionally, we have a resident dietician who offers programs throughout the district to educate the children on various aspects of nutrition, including healthy food choices, the food pyramid, etc.

All of this said, isn’t it really the parent’s responsibility to educate the children on a healthy diet, make sure the child is provided with physical activity, and gets enough sleep? Serving sizes in restaurants and at home are often two or three times that of what is considered an appropriate serving size. Many times they consume something thinking it is one serving and it is actually two or more. This is very common with beverages. It is important for children to learn about serving sizes and also how to read a food label so they are aware of what is considered a serving.

I am all for offering children healthy options in school cafeterias, but people need to know that we already do that. Of the 1,095 meals a year that a child should consume, assuming a child purchases school lunch every day during the school year, the school lunch program is responsible for providing 183 meals to be consumed by that child. I find it very difficult to believe that those 183 meals are responsible for the nation’s obesity problem. 

Lorna Szalay

3 Oak Drive, Sandy Hook                                                April 28, 2010