The Lunch Program

 I'm sure many of you have heard, pizza sauce can now be considered a vegetable for hot lunch purposes.  I can remember when ketchup was deemed a vegetable during the Reagan era and what a stink there was about that.  It was a time when there wasn't even such an obesity crisis.  I'm urging Congress to set valuable standards for hot lunch programs, offering all students a healthy meal and setting an example.  Since good nutrition promotes health and brain function, you'll be helping students become even higher performing students as well.

While we're considering nutrition in the schools, let's consider the rest of the picture.  There are schools that are setting a good example across the board with their lunches, snacks and beverages but there are those that still offer sugary drinks and candy snacks.  Many also offer alternative lunches that are more like what you'd find in the fast food restaurants.  I have no objections to alternatives; in fact, I support offering the students more than one variety of NUTRITIOUS meal each day.  I think schools should always set a good example, and foods are no exception.  I hear from some that kids will throw or trade away the food that's good for them.  My response is that they will see the examples of good food and know the difference.  If they're hungry enough they will eat it.  Meanwhile, there should be low pressure times when the school helps their students learn the values of various food.  As adults we need to strive to help our children be as healthy as possible by encouraging healthy eating.