New Item on the School Cafeteria Menu: a Calorie Limit?

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I'm a student in Barnstable High School and I'm doing a project on the school Caffeteria Menu. I think That giving students options for unhealthy and oily food like pizza, macarroni and cheese, etc,moste students will go for the unhealthy and throw thwir vegies and fruits away. I've done that and I see people doing this, especially the no very athletic students. Giving bad food and offering halthy snacks with them doesnt mean they'll eat the healthy food. But students have no options They will get used to it. There are good tasting food that won't cause any health damages for skinny kids, overweight kids, or athletic kids.

nayara of MA 10:36AM February 18, 2010

I have mixed feelings about this. I think that these guidelines are just that..guidelines. We have to remember that not all kids are the same. This is particularly true in Jr. High, when some kids are shooting up like weeds, and others are holding steady. It seems unfair to the former to limit their caloric intake.
The other problem is waste. Many years ago I worked as a student in a Jr. High cafeteria (free lunch for me!), and I distinctly remember that the kids would just toss out most of the veggies, regardless of what was served. So, you can bring veggies to the kids, but that doesn't mean that they'll be eaten.
I do agree that only healthful food should be served in schools, and that unhealthy fast foods and sodas should not be served on campus. But, limiting the caloric intake of a skinny kid who's going through puberty by decree seems over the top to me.

SoCal Gal of CA 12:16PM November 07, 2009

This is the same in private as it is in public. The more you pay for food, services or products the more they want. And as big business squeezes out small business prices will go up again and again.
It is all about control and big business has more control than our government witch is for the people by the people yet big business would have us fear our government so we will stay out of there way.
Fear and common since does not work well together so if big business can scare you, You will not be in there way. Otherwise a tax on high sugar products can be like wearing a seat belt in most conditions it can keep you healthy.
But if you do not get exorcise you cannot maintain your health anyway.
We need community involvement, We need the young taking there elders for walks and the elders teaching the young camping skills.
The food we eat and drink is only 1/4 of the problem the biggest is the exorcise we do not get in a world with great technology.
What would happen if we took advantage of our technology and developed new technology without putting a big development cost on it?. What would happen if we did not allow big business to manipulate supply and demand for higher profits?. What would happen if people took back there Government by getting involved?.
Our Government is not the problem, Big business and inaction by the people is the problem
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 3:14PM October 22, 2009

This is the same in private as it is in public. The more you pay for food, services or products the more they want. And as big business squeezes out small business prices will go up again and again.
It is all about control and big business has more control than our government witch is for the people by the people yet big business would have us fear our government so we will stay out of there way.
Fear and common since does not work well together so if big business can scare you, You will not be in there way. Otherwise a tax on high sugar products can be like wearing a seat belt in most conditions it can keep you healthy.
But if you do not get exorcise you cannot maintain your health anyway.
We need community involvement, We need the young taking there elders for walks and the elders teaching the young camping skills.
The food we eat and drink is only 1/4 of the problem the biggest is the exorcise we do not get in a world with great technology.
What would happen if we took advantage of our technology and developed new technology without putting a big development cost on it?. What would happen if we did not allow big business to manipulate supply and demand for higher profits?. What would happen if people took back there Government by getting involved?.
Our Government is not the problem, Big business and inaction by the people is the problem
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 3:08PM October 22, 2009

This is the same in private as it is in public. The more you pay for food, services or products the more they want. And as big business squeezes out small business prices will go up again and again.
It is all about control and big business has more control than our government witch is for the people by the people yet big business would have us fear our government so we will stay out of there way.
Fear and common since does not work well together so if big business can scare you, You will not be in there way. Otherwise a tax on high sugar products can be like wearing a seat belt in most conditions it can keep you healthy.
But if you do not get exorcise you cannot maintain your health anyway.
We need community involvement, We need the young taking there elders for walks and the elders teaching the young camping skills.
The food we eat and drink is only 1/4 of the problem the biggest is the exorcise we do not get in a world with great technology.
What would happen if we took advantage of our technology and developed new technology without putting a big development cost on it?. What would happen if we did not allow big business to manipulate supply and demand for higher profits?. What would happen if people took back there Government by getting involved?.
Our Government is not the problem, Big business and inaction by the people is the problem
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 3:05PM October 22, 2009

The IOM is a great science based report. And it's not telling people what to do. It's giving good advice on how to move a school lunch program that was created to aid the problems of an under nourished population in the 40's, and move it towards the health needs of today, which is more about reducing chronic disease, diabetes and obesity. I hope USDA implements this report and hope congress will better fund school lunch programs when the reauthorize the act next year.
http://healthyschoolscampaign.org/?iom

Mark of IL 6:35AM October 22, 2009

My son is 9 years old 54" tall, weighs 63lbs and eats me out of house and home, this weekend after his Football game we went to McDonalds and he consumed a 1/3 Angus burger with the fries and a Coke. He has a very fast metabolism and if he was to stick to these calorie limits he would loose weight, something that he doesn't need. I understand that if parents won't teach their child healthy eating habits someone has to otherwise the children will grow into unhealthy adults BUT implementing limits on calories could have some unexpected results

Jacki of FL 2:18PM October 21, 2009

let me make my own choices.

bob of NY 9:11PM October 20, 2009

School lunch food is really terrible. My daughter was served a chicken patty (no lettuce or tomato) and then applesauce and corn. Nothing fresh, only sweet things, and totally full of calories. We are in an epidemic and something needs to be done.
Lisa
http://www.snacksnoop.com

Lisa Cain of MA 2:40PM October 20, 2009

Here we go again - more government backed people telling you what to eat, how to eat, when to eat, how much to eat. As a high school senior I would have died on 850 calorie lunches.
I am a senior citizen, if you go by chronology. I am a former power lifting champion. My waist has been the same for years and years. My strength exceeds my competitive days, people in their twenties at the gym cannot compete with me. I do leg presses with 415 pounds for a set of 23 repetitions, I use 242 pounds for two arm rows with a set of 20 repetitions (not bragging, just want to make a point). In a tank top people look at me and not without admiration. I eat anything I want to eat, in any quantity I desire. I never eat low fat foods. I finish half a gallon of ice cream in two nights after what my wife calls "eating like a pig". You cannot restrict my calories, my fats, nor my protein intake. I need what I need. My body needs what it needs and I must be doing something right.
I do not want a bunch of fat, lazy politicians telling me what to eat when they could not even get through half my work out. I do not want the government in my refrigerator. As an adult, and a citizen of what is supposed to be a free country, I demand the freedom to eat what I want, when I want, in any quantity I desire. Legislation of food will not solve Americas weight problem, nor help kids become healthier, stronger - deep, serious exercise will. The time spent in front of a TV would be much better spent at a gym. I believe in good health as much, probably more than the next person, but if we let the government and the agencies, and the survey takers set up limits that may or may not work for everyone, then soon a dumpy faced congressman will demand to inspect your dinner - would they let you do the same to them?

felixthecat of NJ 1:16PM October 20, 2009