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Are School Lunches Getting Healthier?

Just in time for back to school, there’s a controversy brewing over a proposed rule in the National School Lunch Program. This rule would “require schools to offer more fruits, vegetables and whole grains; offer only fat-free or low-fat fluid milk; reduce the sodium content of school meals substantially over time; control saturated fat and calorie levels; and minimize trans fats.” Sounds great, right? That’s something we would all support, especially given the poor nutrition and high rates of obesity in children.

However, apparently not everyone is happy. Starchy vegetables, specifically white potatoes, corn, lima beans, and green peas would be limited to 1 cup per week.

In spite of the bad rap potatoes have received, they are loaded with nutritious vitamins and minerals. Baked potatoes contain more potassium than bananas, the source most people think of as the best for potassium. Potatoes, as long as they are not fried or smothered in high-fat toppings, are filling, low-cost, and popular among students. The same can be said for corn, peas and lima beans – they all have redeeming nutritional qualities. Then what’s the reason for the limit on these vegetables? According to the federal government, the purpose is to encourage students to try new vegetables in place of the familiar starchy ones. This means students will be served more broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. That’s good news given that studies have found when students are served new healthy foods over time, they do eventually eat them. So, while some school officials are concerned that it will be challenging to find cost-effective and healthy recipes that students will actually eat, perhaps it won’t turn out to be such a discouraging battle after all. School systems that have made the transition to offering healthier foods have reported that lunch sales have not declined and that more nutritious foods do not always cost more to produce.

I think students should be exposed to a greater variety of vegetables. But all vegetables can be healthy if they are cooked correctly, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables.

What do you think of these proposed regulations? Do you think the idea of limiting starchy vegetables is a good one? Will it be successful in encouraging students to try new vegetables?
 

 

by LindaGotthelf on 09/19/2011 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: motivation, kids

About the Author

Linda Gotthelf

Linda is the Director of Research and has a Ph.D in Psychology specializing in behavioral medicine. She is a founding member of HMR, starting as a health educator and working in several roles since 1984 and has been a co-author on many professional articles.

Comments (4) Post a comment
Update: Apparently the Senate has saved the potato on school lunch menus! They adopted an amendment that prohibits setting any maximum limits on vegetables. Let's hope schools serve the potato the way it should be (and tastes the best!) and not smothered in butter or high-fat toppings. Here's an article for more information: http://nyti.ms/qlaaPy
by LindaGotthelf on 10/20/2011
In finding healthy ways to introduce foods to our kids at school we need to make sure it looks appealing to. Because we can serve it does not mean they will eat it.
by LVNewMe on 09/24/2011
Thanks for your comments Peggy -- I totally agree. I think poor nutrition and lack of physical activity in children is finally being given the attention it has deserved. Let's hope that there has been enough movement on this issue so it can't be turned back now.
by LindaGotthelf on 09/20/2011
Linda - As an RD who has a granddaughter in 2nd grade, I'm a fan of anything to make school lunches healthier. I'm in favor of the new ruling, but like you, I feel that potatoes, corn, peas etc should be allowed. I totally hope that school districts will be creative in what they offer the kids in the way of fruits and veggies. Every school menu has to be approved by an RD. There is no excuse for the situation that we presently have. Finding creative ways of serving delicious, nutritious food is what we're trained to do. It's time that RDs and Food Service Professionals in the school put their training fully into practice. I also hope that the government and all school systems will put their $$ where their mouth is on this issue.
by PeggyatHMC on 09/20/2011