Earlier this month, I was able to go to my niece and nephew’s grade school and meet them for lunch. This was the second time I have met them for lunch at their school. Each time I go, I have fun meeting their classmates, being the visitor at the table and I also get to learn more about school lunches, at least at their school.
Coming to the school lunch is kind of like being a minor celebrity; everyone asks who you are and also asks you to open their packaged food. My niece and nephew usually pack a lunch, but if there is something they want to get on the lunch menu, they buy the school lunch. The day that I visited, both my niece and nephew bought the school lunch. My nephew, who had the earlier lunch, got the Cheesy nacho and beef, and ate a big pile of nachos with meat and cheese, and also had an apple. He must have passed on the cucumber cup that was part of the lunch. Last year when I visited, it also happened to be a Cheesy nacho lunch day. This year, his Cheesy nacho lunch seemed like a more appropriate in size for a kid, and also the side of French fries had been replaced with the green vegetable choice.
My niece also got school lunch, and was excited to get the Fruit and yogurt plate that was an option this day. She ate a yogurt, orange slices, and some graham cracker snacks.
I later spent a little time reading about the provider of their school lunches, which like all school lunch program has to meet the federal nutrition standards. One new food choice that their lunch program has done is add a new “Balanced Choice” lunch, which has a lunch that is no more than 200 total calories, is no more than 35% calories of fat, and has no more than 35% of sugar for any packaged foods. They also now have lowfat milk, and smaller portioned juices.
Overall, it seems like the school lunches at the school are more healthy, but you can still get your fill of chocolate milk (but now it is fat free milk.)
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