Fewer students eating school lunch after change to federal guidelines
Jefferson Parish officials saw 2,000 meal-per-day decline in participation
School meals are more nutritious because of newer federal school lunch guidelines, but the healthy lunch makeover is not a hit with kids.Watch reportSchool districts across the nation are dropping the more nutritious federal school lunch program because kids did not like their healthier lunches. However, Jefferson Parish school officials are sticking to the newer, healthier guidelines although fewer students are eating school lunches.Despite the decline in participation, there is still a concerted effort to give students healthy, balanced meals.In a typical week at John Ehret High School, students are served hot meals like Salisbury steak, barbecue chicken, baked turkey and plenty of vegetables.With 68 percent of students in Jefferson Parish on free or reduced lunch, the food offered at school is sometimes the only healthy meal they eat."Many come in very hungry at breakfast because they've not had much for supper the night before," explained Cecelia Enault, Food Services executive director.Louisiana schools began revising school menus in 2010 after first lady Michele Obama championed the Healthy, Hunger-free Act. It was the first major overhaul of the nations standards for school meals in 15 years."We now have specific calorie levels for various age groups, finite sodium limits that we work with, our milk choices need to be reduced fat milks, there's much more of an increase emphasis on fruits and vegetables and baked good have to be whole-grain rich," Enault said.She and other food services staff write 11 different menus for the parish. She said they offer a wide variety, some things students are not used to eating, which means sometimes the food makes it on the student's plate but not into their belly."Children need between 10 and 15 times of exposure before they might be willing to taste or even to like some food, so sometimes we may feed the trash a little more than we want to in order to do this part of nutrition education and expose children," she said.The food services department has a $24 million budget, and 35 percent of it goes to food and milk. The district uses many of the same retail brands purchased in grocery stores and gets products from a number of local companies.On average 28,000 lunches, 19,000 breakfasts and a couple thousand snacks are served every day. Since the federal standards changed, the district has observed a 2,000 meal-per-day decline in the number of students eating school lunch offerings."We have been able to absorb the financial loss primarily because our breakfast program has increased." Enault said they have tried to focus on a concept known as offer versus serve."Please take it all, and eat it all, but if you're going to go put it in the trash, just leave it for the next person."The district continues to refine menus to entice students with food that looks good and has fun names. They also explain the benefits of eating healthy. In elementary schools there is nutrition education through the health and physical education department.
JEFFERSON PARISH, La —
School meals are more nutritious because of newer federal school lunch guidelines, but the healthy lunch makeover is not a hit with kids.
Watch report
School districts across the nation are dropping the more nutritious federal school lunch program because kids did not like their healthier lunches. However, Jefferson Parish school officials are sticking to the newer, healthier guidelines although fewer students are eating school lunches.
Despite the decline in participation, there is still a concerted effort to give students healthy, balanced meals.
In a typical week at John Ehret High School, students are served hot meals like Salisbury steak, barbecue chicken, baked turkey and plenty of vegetables.
With 68 percent of students in Jefferson Parish on free or reduced lunch, the food offered at school is sometimes the only healthy meal they eat.
"Many come in very hungry at breakfast because they've not had much for supper the night before," explained Cecelia Enault, Food Services executive director.
Louisiana schools began revising school menus in 2010 after first lady Michele Obama championed the Healthy, Hunger-free Act. It was the first major overhaul of the nations standards for school meals in 15 years.
"We now have specific calorie levels for various age groups, finite sodium limits that we work with, our milk choices need to be reduced fat milks, there's much more of an increase emphasis on fruits and vegetables and baked good have to be whole-grain rich," Enault said.
She and other food services staff write 11 different menus for the parish. She said they offer a wide variety, some things students are not used to eating, which means sometimes the food makes it on the student's plate but not into their belly.
"Children need between 10 and 15 times of exposure before they might be willing to taste or even to like some food, so sometimes we may feed the trash a little more than we want to in order to do this part of nutrition education and expose children," she said.
The food services department has a $24 million budget, and 35 percent of it goes to food and milk. The district uses many of the same retail brands purchased in grocery stores and gets products from a number of local companies.
On average 28,000 lunches, 19,000 breakfasts and a couple thousand snacks are served every day. Since the federal standards changed, the district has observed a 2,000 meal-per-day decline in the number of students eating school lunch offerings.
"We have been able to absorb the financial loss primarily because our breakfast program has increased." Enault said they have tried to focus on a concept known as offer versus serve.
"Please take it all, and eat it all, but if you're going to go put it in the trash, just leave it for the next person."
The district continues to refine menus to entice students with food that looks good and has fun names. They also explain the benefits of eating healthy. In elementary schools there is nutrition education through the health and physical education department.
FAQs
School meals are more nutritious because of newer federal school lunch guidelines, but the healthy lunch makeover is not a hit with kids. School districts across the nation are dropping the more nutritious federal school lunch program because kids did not like their healthier lunches.
Why students don t eat school lunches? ›
Dissatisfaction with the food is offered as the main reason students skip school lunches, though factors such as long lines, feeling rushed, and not having enough time also impact students' ability to eat their lunch at school.
How have the new school lunches affected the students? ›
Research shows that receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health. In addition, the new school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables.
How has school food changed over time? ›
Many began changing their menus to provide somewhat healthier meals like grilled jerk chicken, barbecued pork sandwiches, and fresh (instead of canned) fruits and vegetables. Also, natural and organic food companies began to take more of an interest in providing school lunches.
Are healthier school lunches an effective way to change eating habits? ›
Support healthy habits and consistent messages: Nutritious school food helps students develop lifelong healthy eating habits. It also contributes to a culture of wellness at school, reinforcing nutrition education messages from teachers.
Why are school lunches so bad now? ›
Because of the low budgets, rolled back standards and forced ingredients with longer shelf lives, school cafeterias often opt for processed foods that are high in preservatives. Public school lunches may be held to lower quality criteria than fast food, which is typically thought to be the worst of the worst.
What percent of kids don't eat school lunch? ›
“On a given school day in 2015, we found that on average, more than 1 in 20 students reported eating no lunch all. Missing lunch was more common among older children. Close to one in ten adolescents (ages 14-17 years) reported not eating any lunch compared to only 4% of children age 6-13 years.
How did school lunches change in 2012? ›
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act changed nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program by requiring that schools serve more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free and/or low-fat milk more frequently and less starchy vegetables or foods high in sodium and trans fat.
How many schools have unhealthy lunches? ›
About 30 percent of school districts exceeded the saturated fat limit. Four out of five districts exceeded recommended sodium levels. More than 200 of about 860 districts and charter schools reviewed failed to meet three or more nutritional standards.
How many students in the US rely on school lunches? ›
Food Research & Action Center's report, The Reach of School Breakfast and Lunch During the 2021–2022 School Year , reveals that just over 15.5 million children received a school breakfast, and 29.9 million children received a school lunch on an average day during the 2021–2022 school year — an increase of 1.6 million ...
School lunches in the 50s were pretty much like the meat and two veg in diners at the time. There was only one lunch, no choice. Typically it would be a ham slice with pineapple, mashed potatoes and gravy amd green beans. Or turkey and dressing or Salisbury steak.
How much was school lunch in the 80s? ›
In terms of cost, school lunches in the 1980s were still relatively affordable, typically costing around a dollar or slightly more. Government programs continued to provide free or reduced-price lunches to low-income families.
How much did school lunch cost in 1970? ›
1970s. The '70s saw more efforts to provide free or reduced-price lunches to low-income families through government programs; outside of those efforts, lunches cost between 50 cents and $1.
What did Michelle Obama do to the school lunches? ›
Obama launched Let's Move! when she was in the White House, a program that tried to tackle obesity, with a focus on childhood obesity. With the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, Let's Move! instituted changes to school lunches that included offering kids more whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.
How healthy are school lunches in the US? ›
“On average, school meals are healthier than the food American children consume from any other source including at home, but we're at a critical time to further strengthen their nutrition,” says senior author Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School.
Are lunches brought from home more nutritious than school lunches? ›
Home-packed lunches at U.S. schools comprise about 40 percent of school meals. Their packed content was reported to have a higher caloric value and a lesser nutritional value than in-school lunches. All NSLP-participating schools must make their lunch offerings healthy and meet minimum nutrition/caloric standards.
Why do kids not eat lunch? ›
Children are notoriously picky about food. If your child is not eating lunch at school, it may be because the child doesn't like the food in question, or it is difficult to eat at school. Sometimes it's a matter of time, the child may not feel they have adequate time during the lunch break to eat.
What happens when students don't eat lunch? ›
Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins, such as zinc, protein, and omega-3s, can lead to reduced cognitive development in children. Furthermore, when a student's diet is high in unhealthy fats, it leads to decreased cognition. The same goes for conduct and behavior problems.
Why do schools not allow eating in class? ›
The biggest reason, according to most teachers, is that they don't want students to eat in their classroom because students make big messes with their food. Certain snacks can make big messes, but other foods like chewy granola bars, fruits, veggies, nuts, and fruit snacks are easier to clean up.
Why should students leave school for lunch? ›
This can help students make healthier food choices, and it gives students the option to be more comfortable while eating, by getting off school grounds and eating by themselves and the ability to eat in the comfort of their home.
