If this picture triggers horrible flashbacks to your school cafeteria lunch days, I’m sorry. If this picture looks like your lunch today, I’m also sorry. If this picture is making you hungry and you’re offended by the first two sentences, I’m sorry, as well.
I never had cafeterias in my elementary schools, so I always had to bring lunch to school. So, I don’t have memories of frozen peas, carrots, corn, processed meat, cheese, white bread, boxes of milk, and whatever the hell is in the top right corner of that tray. Jello? Probably…
The contradiction between people’s desires to raise healthy kids and the food we feed kids, whether in school or at home, is one of those things you might not ever think about, but once you do, it’s hard not to wonder what on earth we’re doing. If we want kids to be healthy, why are school lunches notoriously unhealthy? Why are kids menus full of fried, greasy, fatty foods like pizza, french fries, and chicken nuggets? Why do we assume these are the types of foods that kids naturally like?
At 1pm today, we’ll talk about some different approaches to feeding kids, again, both in and out of school. For some interesting ideas, check out The Food Studies Institute, started by one of our guests today, Antonia Demas.
If you’re a parent, what have your experiences been when it comes to feeding your kids? Are you happy with the food that they’re given in school?
-Justin
