Lunch, Anyone?

The boys are completing a cooking project this year in 4H, and one of their assignments is to evaluate school lunches. Since that is a bit difficult for us, or at least unfair, we decided to take advantage of the free summer lunch program offered by the county schools. Anyone under age 18 can show up at a school and eat for free this summer. I paid $3.25 for this honor.

This is what was offered on Tuesday: hamburger- no toppings other than condiment packages- chewy french fries that had been baked, fruit cocktail with mostly canned peaches and pears in it, and chocolate, fat free milk. No fresh fruits and veggies. No colorful foods. Very much not appetizing. Look at the joy on my boys' faces!

We had planned to try it twice this week, but after our poor experience, and a discussion with the cook, we decided we are done. #1 said he would tie himself to his bed before he would do that again!

The talk with the cook was interesting. They bake everything. In fact, there is no oil or grease anywhere around so that they can not possibly fry anything. That happened about five years ago, and though it took the kids a while to get used to it, they don't seem to mind now. Salt is not added to anything. Ketchup is to be offered in ounce servings. Most kids eat the ketchup and not the fries, per the cook.

I asked about the lack of fresh food. The cook said since it is so close to the end of the summer program- it has three weeks left- they will not offer any more fresh food. I guess they have had some fresh fruit earlier in the summer. She did say that starting in the fall they will begin offering cup sized portions of fruits and vegetables instead of half-cup sized. Also the fruit will be fresh. She did also comment that they have a butter seasoning sauce that they are allowed to put on vegetables they cook, otherwise there is no seasoning.

I noticed that our plates were thrown away with quite a bit of food left on them. The other kids who attended, ones in the summer program, emptied their plates. I guess you get used to bad food.