On Saturday, the Houston Chronicle published my op-ed regarding the need for nutrition education in conjunction with any improvements to school food. My main point: without education and encouragement, students used to little besides pizza and nuggets are unlikely to try any new foods, no matter how healthful or appealing they may be.
You can read the full op-ed here.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Good article B.
Totally agree that when new foods are introduced that they should not be offered opposite pizza or nuggets. That is a set up for failure. By calling attention to that tactic in your article you may have saved the progress your PAC group has made in the last few months.
I liked reading the comments on the article. The last one I read just didn’t get it. ” Feed the kids what they will eat and let the parents worry about feeding them well at home.” Well, I’m not really quoting him am I. The point is that with 80% of those kids on free or reduced lunch, they wont be getting good food at home either.
There has to be an answer to the School Lunch problem. I’m not sure if it will be an across the country revamp or if perhaps it will have to go state by state. Everyone wants those Federal dollars, but look what it is getting them. What would districts have to work with if they didn’t have to deal with the federal money? Is this what Chef Ann does?
More research for me.
Viki: Thanks for your thoughts on the piece and the comments it generated. I believe that Chef Ann gets outside grant funding, which may make what she’s able to accomplish an unattainable goal for other schools. But I, too, need to nail down the specifics. – Bettina
Great piece. We’re working on that here in D.C. as well. There does not seem to be any over-arching plan for nutrition education here.
Ed: Thank you! It always amazes me that this critical piece of the problem is treated as an after-thought. I keep thinking of those W. Va kids spurning Jamie Oliver’s food day after day, and I don’t have to tell you, a Chartwell’s parent, that Aramark isn’t turning out anything nearly as appealing as Jamie Oliver!
– Bettina
Great op ed. Couldn’t agree more about the need for nutrition ed. We’re trying to get Chicago to apply for the USDA HealthierUS Schools Challenge which includes requirements for improved food, nutrition ed and for physical activity. We like the more comprehensive approach and not only focus on one element.
Good work.
And the not-quite-done website for our efforts with the USDA Challenge is http://www.goforthegoldCPS.org
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