Struck by the lunch food crisis, teens across America throw out 56% more food now than in years pass. The USDA however requires children to take the fruits and veggies provided, but are almost always thrown out as soon as an adult looks away. The current lunch requirements do promote a healthier lifestyle and eating habits, but it is overall not helping today's youth. Since the majority of the lunch is thrown out, the healthier option is just causing more sack lunches and junk food snacks to be brought into the school. With new US administration, there is hope for a better lunch program in years to come. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, his department would delay Obama's "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act" on lowering sodium and increasing whole grains. Therefore give food flavor and taste once again. He released a statement in telling his new lunch program to a school in Virginia with huge success. However the mandatory fruits and vegetables would stay. In many cases children are more upset by the lack of taste then the fact that there is broccoli on their plate. As well as a change in food, a change in drink will also be installed. Schools will be able to offer 1% fat milk to students instead of skim. This however is not a huge change but stills benefits the students. When asked about our current lunch programs students said "I've brought my lunch to school everyday from the beginning of freshmen year. I never really know what to expect from school lunch, so why risk it?" Tyller Radney, CCHS Sophomore "It sucks a**" Yasmin Godinez, CCHS Senior "Because of health restrictions and a poor budget, the lunch that is offered at CCHS lacks in quality, quantity and flavor." Elissa Escue, CCHS Senior "Terrible. The food isn't enough for our growing teenage bodies. The lunch meat we get is horrible. The fruit we get isn't all that either. But we can choose Caesar salad which is much better but still not enough to get full." Martiez Pinnick, CCHS Sophomore But there is still changes to come. Since the election of our new president in November, changes for schools have already began to take place. Many people however are ready for this change to come as soon as possible. When asked what they would like to see in the future for our lunch program students said: "Better fruit. Like not old fruit. And more soup." Ariana Palermo, CCHS Sophomore "I hope to see a return of vendors." Richard Cossia, CCHS Sophomore "Real meat and more variety." Kellyn Daly, CCHS Junior Our school lunch consists of usually a fake meat, some form of grain, fruit, vegetables and the optional milk. What students from the above quotes have the most problem with is the quality of the food. The meat is fake, the fruit is old, all of these problems could be changed without breaking the current lunch restrictions. Students understand we can’t have filet mingon for lunch everyday, but a ground beef burger shouldn’t look and taste like the plastic ones we played with as kids. The second problem the majority of students have a problem with is the taste, or the lack of sodium. Every day the recommended amount of sodium is 2300 mg, which equals about 766 mg per meal. Our current lunch has a similar amount but due to the fake meats, the majority of our sodium is in the meat. A better alternative would be to use some of the salt in the carbohydrates and vegetable to give flavor. Below are two common lunches we have a CCHS and the alternative we could have while still meeting health regulations. Current Meals Chicken patty one whole wheat bun, fries, carrots, applesauce and 0% fat milk Hamburger patty on whole meat, mashed potatoes, broccoli, orange, 0% fat milk New Options Chicken patty n white bun, fries (With salt), carrots (with salt), 1% fat milk Hambruger made of beef, white bun, mashed potatoes (with salt), broccoli (With salt), orange, 1% fat milk Overall, students are tired of the current lunch program and are ready for change. But with change will come new struggles. Cost, accessibility of fresh foods, and an overhaul of school cafeterias, are just a few of the challenges schools will face. When these changes are implemented, the overall moral of the student body will be positive resulting in better behavior, grades, and a decrease in skipped lunches. The student body is hopeful that CCHS will be on the for front of this administrations school lunch reform. |