For today’s Friday Buffet: school lunches from around the world, lunches that are works of art, and a few other tidbits that may be of interest to Lunch Tray readers:
House Hearings Begin on the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization
Yesterday, House legislators began holding a full committee hearing on the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 (H.R. 5504), which is the House version of the Child Nutrition Bill. Read more about it at Slow Food USA’s Time for Lunch blog — including ways to contact your own House representatives as they consider this crucial school food legislation.
Something Really Fun (At Least for the School-Lunch-Obsessed)
Wanna know what they’re eating in school cafeterias in Estonia, Finland or Dijbouti? Here’s a site just for you — a blog devoted entirely to photos of school lunches around the world! I could look at these for hours. (Scary, I know.)
Apparently Not Everyone’s A Fan of the Food Revolution
Britain’s new health minister recently made news by saying that Jamie Oliver’s efforts to improve children’s eating habits in that country were actually unsucessful, and Oliver has now responded. You can read the back-and-forth at the Daily Mail.
No More Happy Meal Toys?
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is threatening to sue McDonald’s on the grounds that the use of Happy Meals toys lures children into consuming unhealthful food. I’m guessing this litigation (if eventually filed) is unlikely to succeed, but you never know. More here.
For Parents Who Don’t Have Enough to Do on School Mornings
Perhaps this site will keep you busy as you pack your kids’ lunches this fall. (Actually, I’m quite fascinated by these exquisitely beautiful lunches – the cultural underpinnings, the attitudes of the moms who make them, how the kids react to them – and will post more about them later.)
Have a great Fourth of July weekend, everyone. More Lunch Tray on Monday!
Mendy says
I love Fridays on The Lunch Tray! I try to read everything I can about school food, but I always find something here I missed.
Today I’m feeling very badly about what Britain’s health minister said about Jamie Oliver and all the work he’s done. I’m sure all of Jamie’s critics…junk food manufacturers included…were ecstatic! Why do so many politicians insist on keeping our children unhealthy? Could it have anything to do with money?
bettina elias siegel says
Mendy: Glad you like the Friday feature! I find that it’s impossible to stay on top of this huge issue and I’m always learning from other people’s blogs as well. FYI, I still plan to write about your experience – I’ll let you know when that’s going to happen. – Bettina