I sat in the office at the girls school last week waiting for a meeting I was (notoriously) early for. I made polite conversation with the secretary for a few minutes and then settled into my chair to spend a few minutes observing. I love chances to view this home away from home where my girls are without me for so many hours each week. I love to watch the way the children interact with the teachers and other adults. It brings me back to my own school days.
Unfortunately on this visit I was horrified. Not by what you might expect but by a school lunch. A little boy walked in to have lunch with the principal (use your imagination on what might have brought him there ;D) and she was not ready for him. He sat at a desk in the office to eat his lunch. I smiled at him politely and shifted my glance (since he was obviously there to be punished). When my eyes settled on his lunch I wanted to grab it from him or call his mother or something. A tray with a pre-made (sugar filled) peanut butter and jelly sandwich, THREE bags of chips and a chocolate milk. The secretary said to him "wow you have a lot of chips" and he responded "yeah, they were giving away dorito's and you are allowed to pick 2 snacks".
I was in disbelief. So an 8 year old child is allowed to "choose" their snacks and "choosing" 3 bags of chips is acceptable. I am appalled. Thankfully for us buying school lunch isn't an option with our allergies. I just can't believe that in this day and age with all of the over-regulation children are eating preservative, sugar filled sandwiches and three bags of chips and no one seems to mind. Just dreadful...
Posts
2 comments:
That was a school offered lunch? I'm slightly surprised the peanut butter was an option most schools even if they don't have a no peanut policy don't serve nut products as part of the school menu. Though there was one we visited when living in Ohio that did. We had to opt out of the school for that reason alone because we have a severely peanut allergic child. I am not surprised by the chips though, school lunches are notoriously unhealthy. So glad we're living in England at the moment and their lunches (not that my child ever wants them, of course not, why make moms life easier?!) are incredibly healthy, often organic and almost always local produce and meats. They only serve water to drink though and even packers aren't supposed to bring anything other than water, not even milk, which I find a bit odd.
S - It really is appalling to me! It almost makes me thankful that Abby has food allergies so we can avoid the whole thing. ;D I too was surprised by the peanut butter. I thought our school was peanut free but I guess not. I do know that they have a food allergy table in the lunch room for those kids who have allergies. I feel like that is so stigmatizing though...
Post a Comment