Oct 2, 2012
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The federal government wants moms and dads to start serving meals at home that conform to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
The USDA urged parents to help reinforce the new school guidelines by providing similar meals at dinner time.
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“We know that many parents are already making changes at home to help the whole family eat healthier,” the USDA wrote on their official blog. “We recommend reviewing school menus with kids at home and working to incorporate foods that are being served at school into family meals as much as possible.”
Under the new guidelines, school districts must serve more whole grains, daily portions of fruits and vegetables, less sugar and salt and only low-fat or non-fat milk. But the lunches must also meet caloric restrictions. And under the government guidelines, a high school student is not allowed to have more than 850 calories.
“Adapting to the changes may be challenging at first, as students are introduced to new flavors and foods in the cafeteria,” the USDA wrote. “But as you can see there are many ways to make the transition easier.”
The new rules have generated a firestorm of controversy across the nation – with students arguing that it’s not enough food to sustain them through the school day.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) blasted the USDA’s blog posting.
“This is a nanny state,” Huelskamp told Fox News. “Now they want to change everything at home.”
The Kansas lawmaker joined Iowa Rep. Steve King to introduce the “No Hungry Kids Act.” The legislation would repeal the USDA’s rule that created the new, controversial standards.
“Let the school cooks, let the parents, let the school district decide this – not some bureaucrat in the Obama White House,” Huelskamp said. “We all want to see healthier kids, but the program is not working. Now they want to control the home lunch room – the kitchen.”
“We all want to see healthier kids, but the program is not working. That’s why they are trying to force it in the homes.”
Hulkskamp said the Obama administration has gone too far with their plans.
“You have a crowd in Washington that thinks they can make better decisions than parents,” he said. “That is overstepping the limits of what we expect Washington to do.”
Students from coast to coast are rebelling against the Obama policies.
As many as 1,000 students at a New Jersey high school staged a boycott of their cafeteria last week to protest the new lunch guidelines that many teenagers say are leaving them hungry.
Even the company that provides food to the school understands their frustration.
The portions are meager admitted Mark Vidovich, president of Pomptonian Food Service. “I’m afraid I would probably be hungry myself.”
But he said there’s not a thing his company can do about the matter.
“We have a maximum amount of grains and protein we’re allowed to serve and a maximum amount of calories,” he said.
Teenagers at a tiny Kansas school decided to send their own message the President Obama by creating a video parody that showed hungry children collapsing in classrooms while others burn copies of the government regulations.
“The whole purpose was to enhance their nutrition and actually the opposite is happening,” said Huelskamp. “The lunches may be a little bit healthier but if the kids aren’t going to eat it and there aren’t enough calories for the kids, you’re making the problem worse.”
For example, Huelskamp said students are only allowed one and a half ounces of meat. In a beef state like Kansas, he said that just doesn’t work.
“The idea that one and a half ounces of meat is only what they’re going to be given for two or three days a week is simply not enough for a growing kid,” he said.
“Go look in the trash can,” he said. “There is your failed policy.”
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My kids are adapting by packing, and so are their friends!
Wow the government is just getting worse by the minute.
Lol
Lol
Lol
Wow the government is just getting worse by the minute.
This article and you people are ridiculous. These lunches are subsidized by the federal government. They are pushing more fruits and veggies. If you don't like it, you are more than welcome to pack your own lunch from home, no one is stopping you. The kids eating the school lunches are whining about being hungry, but throwing half their lunch away. If this was any other administration no one would care and tell the kids the same thing you do at home "eat your veggies!". The only people complaining are the parents who only feed their kids McDonalds and KFC and republicans who pick at anything this president does no matter whether its good or not.
God forbid they give children more fruits and veggies instead of junk food. HOW Dare they!
Unfortunately, Sean, the lunches are only subsidized for the low income folks, not for the people like my husband and I who work our butts off. Because of this health food initiative, my kids school lunch prices have raised to $3.00 for my elementary school student, $3.50 for my middle school student, and over $4.00 for my high school student and the cost is going up another 50-65 cents next year. Multiply that by 5 days a week and it becomes a rip-off since they are getting smaller portions and barely make it through the afternoon without starving.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't have healthier food in the cafeterias at schools, I'm just saying that it doesn't have to be as expensive and the calorie counts probably aren't enough for your average kids (and 2 of the 3 kids I mentioned are underweight and athletic). Besides, as we all know, fruits and veggies out of a can are just as unhealthy as pizza and chicken nuggets.
Too funny…#1: I find it difficult to believe that the same crowd pushing for women's rights to murder their unborn children have taken this government "recommendation" to heart, for the health of our children?!, yeah right…go blow your argument somewhere else! #2: *Giggle* a Liberal who just said "God" (unheard of these days) Lol!
The argument here is NOT fruits and vegetables, which have always been served in public lunches, the problem is this current administration reaching into an area that they do not belong. Mr. Brooks if you would like to live in a Socialist regime, relocate to Cuba; a Communist regime, please defect to China….true Americans enjoy their freedom & limited government involvement. We favor God and our Constitution! If you do not like it, please, please go somewhere else.
Sean, you are wrong. I am not a liberal or a conservative. So you can't blame one or the other for not liking this program. Why keep putting people into these two parties as if we are not individuals but stand for the whole party?
Sean, more fruits and vegetables isn't the problem. The fact is protein is a necessity for replacing torn muscle and building growing muscle as it stretches and, yes, tears to get bigger with a growing child. The meals do not provide a good amount of protein, and neither does low- or non-fat milk. Whole milk is actually more nutritious because it contains necessary fats and proteins. Fat is necessary, just don't take in more than is healthy. In places where meat is a large staple in a child's diet, that pathetic excuse for a meat serving is not going to cut it. Also, the real issue that people are complaining about is this government sticking its nose into business it should have no say in.
Jennifer Wilson Jordaine , preach it! It's nice to find people of like opinion and with a brain still exist in this country. If you don't like my country and the way we want it run, no one is stopping you from moving.
Sean the sad truth is this article is about the government starting to tell parents what they serve at home should meet THEIR guidelines. They are taking the parents decisions out of the equation here..that is what the article is about – decisions at home and at school: "the federal government wants moms and dads to start serving meals at home that conform to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.The USDA urged parents to help reinforce the new school guidelines by providing similar meals at dinner time." It isn't the government's job as dictated by our constitution (the laws that govern how the government is to govern) to decide what parents feed their children.
People are upset because the government has started stepping on parents decisions on how to raise their children, for instance taking underage children to abortion clinics, giving them birth control etc..all without parental approval..yet for a child who is underage to get their ears pierced they need parental permission….they need parents approval to go on a field trip because they are transporting their children away from school, yet they can take them to an abortion clinic…. THAT is what is upsetting parents…its a parents job and duty to raise their child – NOT the government's.
Well said, Paige. Thank you!
Jennifer Fisher Fulton Food prices are going up for EVERYONE, Jennifer–why would you expect school lunch prices to be any different? And how high do you think they'll go under Romney and Ryan's plans to gut funding for schools? Jezus, THINK!!!
Jennifer Wilson Jordaine I would only be so happy if people like YOU, Jennifer, would "go somewhere else", where radicals and extremists go, wherever that may be.
Actually the federal government gives the school system $2.50 for every lunch it sells. So your kids pay $3.00, which the school gets, and the federal government gives it another $2.50..
Jennifer Wilson Jordaine , Socialist? ITS A PUBLIC LUNCH. if you dont like what they serve, PACK YOUR KIDS LUNCH. jesus christ people. is it that hard to understand? The obama administration reaching into an area it shouldnt? You mean the federally funded school lunch program? God forbid the USDA regulates its own federal lunch program.
That is all state to state and not done by the federal government. Learn to pick your battles. The government is not a catch all phrase that you can use to describe "us vs them". Also, the USDA has always set recomendations on dietery guidelines and this is nothing new. Putting out information and publisizing it , is not the government sticking its nose in your business.. The government sticking its nose in your business is them trying to ban abortion and gay marriage.
This article and you people are ridiculous. These lunches are subsidized by the federal government. They are pushing more fruits and veggies. If you don't like it, you are more than welcome to pack your own lunch from home, no one is stopping you. The kids eating the school lunches are whining about being hungry, but throwing half their lunch away. If this was any other administration no one would care and tell the kids the same thing you do at home "eat your veggies!". The only people complaining are the parents who only feed their kids McDonalds and KFC and republicans who pick at anything this president does no matter whether its good or not.
God forbid they give children more fruits and veggies instead of junk food. HOW Dare they!
I went to school to find out why my child was refused lunch only to find out that the teacher was using permision to eat for behavior modification she told me that it wasn't woking because he simply waited to get home to eat she and her principle told me to stop eeding him at home so he would be more receptive to their demands at school if w le them get away with this then next will be notes from teacher permting us to feed or not our children at home you decide november 6.
The time that schOols can tell us not to feed our kids cps will get us for unfit parents n take our kids i dont think so i will tell them u figure out what u need to do at the school n i will do what i need to do at home for my kids bottom line cause i sAy so
The time that schOols can tell us not to feed our kids cps will get us for unfit parents n take our kids i dont think so i will tell them u figure out what u need to do at the school n i will do what i need to do at home for my kids bottom line cause i sAy so
The time that schOols can tell us not to feed our kids cps will get us for unfit parents n take our kids i dont think so i will tell them u figure out what u need to do at the school n i will do what i need to do at home for my kids bottom line cause i sAy so
Still, if my kid is being refused lunch at school for any reason, I think that's the time ill be calling cps on the school. Bull crap that this was even allowed to happen. I think is start showing up, just to make sure the school was doing what there paid to do, teach!
Besides, reward good behavior, ignore bad behavior unless it is endangering others then remove that student from the situation, but do not, absolutely, do not refuse to feed my kid a lunch I pay for.
Hi! Once again the federal government is sticking their noses in something that should be left to the parents.
Hi! Once again the federal government is sticking their noses in something that should be left to the parents.
There are parents that are involved and some that are dependent. Anyway, here's an interesting site for parents. http://iwf.org/blog/2789444/School-Lunches:-Helping-Parents-Pack-Lunches
There are parents that are involved and some that are dependent. Anyway, here's an interesting site for parents. http://iwf.org/blog/2789444/School-Lunches:-Helping-Parents-Pack-Lunches
The ONLY reason this is an issue is because of Obamacare. No one cared a wit before the feds offered to give us "free" healthcare. Healthier people=less medical care $$ to be spent. At some point you may need to conform to the diet prescribed by the new food czar to even qualify for health care.
BINGO!!!!!!!
BINGO!!!!!!!
Hey Fed have you ate school lunch? It tastes like shit! This statement goes to the Politicians, When you feed your children that shit at home then I will but until then you can eat shit! We'll eat what we want…. Since I am An American with Mexican Heritage we will eat Tacos, Tostadas, Chrizo, burritos, Tripas, Carnitas and everything that makes us happy!
Shit now I'm hungry. Lol
Green hamburgers Wtf!!
Stop allowing food stamps to be used to buy alcohol, cigarettes, sodas, chips, candy, cookies and junk food – problem solved. You tell restaurants they have to sell half portions of French fries in Happy Meals and limit soda size, yet it is ok to have high fructose corn syrup in the fruit smoothies? Its ok to buy these things with food stamps? I don't get it! I have seen what my kids eat in the cafeteria and it is not nutritious by my standards! After that pink slime debacle, my kids refuse to eat in the cafeteria because they don't want food made with meat that even pet food companies rejected! I serve nutritious fruits, vegetables and whole grains (organic when possible) AT HOME and pack my children's lunch!
they need to practice what they preach if they REALLY cared about what we are eating. Apparently it is ok to feed the elderly, poor, disabled and and any other disenfranchised people on assistance DEADLY food!?! Hmmmm, what really is their goal? They must not really care about this population! What is their real agenda?
If those of us who are shopping wisely still can't afford an occasional bag of cookies then why in the world are food stamp folks able to fill their carts with all the junk they want!? I say stamps should be for whole foods only..no extras. If they want the junk they should pay for it out of pocket. Ok..I'm jumping off the soap box now.
#1 you cant buy alcohol and ciggerates with food stamps. thats pretty obvious. #2 i agree they need to only allow food stamps to purchase fruits, veggies, lean meat, and whole grains. And not because junk food is bad for you (which it is) but because tax dollars dont need to be spent giving people luxary items (cookies, steaks, sodas). Food stamps are to keep people from starving, not to keep them eating like everyone else.
@Sean, in some states it is allowed. There was a big debate over it in the news because a cashier was fired for refusing to take the foodstamp debit card for a purchase of cigs.
PS, I make chocolate cake from scratch and use whole wheat flour, real butter, real sugar, real eggs, cheap and no processed preservatives.
This isn't about health. This is about control. These totalitarian wannabe's are simply trying to create an entire generation of young people who are totally indoctrinated into a system where government makes all decisions for you.
If the government would spend 6 months minding its business and 6 months staying out of mine we both will have a good year.
If the government would spend 6 months minding its business and 6 months staying out of mine we both will have a good year.
They need to mind there on business and quit worrying about how I eat. I don't approve about a lot of things they do but do I go in there house and try to tell them how there going to eat, live, spend, etc…
Cold day in hell before that happens. If I eat good, its a choice. If I want junk food then deal with it. Its called Freedom.
I could see your anger if anyone was in any way actually trying to control what you eat at home. But you are angry bc they suggest that parents feed their children healthy food at home? So sure, how dare they suggest our children be given the best start at a long healthy life?
I was wondering how long it would take them to try to tell you what to feed your kids at home. we are indeed living in a dictatorship where everything you do is controled by the gov.
In the 18th century, "Let them eat cake!"
In the 21st century, "You'd better not feed them cake!"
It sounds like we are being run by the Nazis.
The sad truth about what his happening here: there are very profitable companies that supply highly enriched and nutritionally lacking food to public schools all across the country; when the new standards became law, they couldn't feed kids a fried potato stick and call it a serving of veggies. Moreover, healthier food costs more, so complying with the law cuts into their bottom line. But the truth is, it also cuts into the waistlines of a student body (and by extension, citizenry) that is getting fatter and fatter each year, which causes all sorts of health problems that in turn raise the cost of healthcare for those of use who are not 50~200lbs overweight.
To the guy complaining that the kids just throw away the food they don't like -don't you think the parents should be doing some disipline and teach their kids to be grateful for a healthy meal?
The problem is that this won't solve the problem. It won't even make a dent in the problem. The problem isn't only eating unhealthy foods. Kids are going home and sitting in front of a computer instead of playing outside with their friends. Parents are afraid to let their kids play outside. Schools are cutting gym and recess so they can spend more time preparing for the tests which determine funding.
So what will happen? Kids will eat less at school, then go home, and gorge on junk food.
Now what happens when this plan fails? When parents can't or won't feed their kids healthier foods? Will they start mandating what parents feed their kids? Will they mandate exercise?
And not to mention the billions our government spends on subsidizing food like corn. On one hand we are blasting these companies for using high fructose corn syrup because it is unhealthy, but on the other hand we are giving money to farmers to keep the price of corn cheap.
Maybe if we stopped subsidizing corn the price would go up along with price of high fructose corn syrup and then it wouldn't be cheaper to make the unhealthy foods.
Hmm…I wonder why the current administration doesn't just "recommend" (ahem, mandate) that all fast food places serve tofu 'burgers' on gluten free bread & baked organic carrots in place of french fries, no juice, only fat free/hormone free milk or water for $2.00/meal? If they don't comply, their taxes will skyrocket, they will be fined, and/or put out of business! Imagine how many people would lose their jobs then! The current administration has completely over reached their boundaries. Why can't they just offer free parenting education classes, like what is offered with the WIC program, with some positive reinforcement behind them, such as our Constitutional right called freedom.
Well, folks, here we go. The first start to a dictatorship. Why can't the Feds keep out of our lives. NYC mayor and all the feds should just take a flying leap off a short pier. From this one thing there will be more….writing is on the wall.
LOL. "While studentspick at their vegetables, USDA’s cafeteria menus are loaded with unhealthy options for government employees — from pesto chicken pizza to BLTs with cheddar cheese, Cuban pork paninis to Philly steak subs, cheeseburgers to French toast.
“If the USDA demands that 100,000 school districts change their menus and justifies this mandate because schools receive federal money for lunches, then taxpayers should demand that the USDA cafeteria meet the same standards, as USDA operates in taxpayer-funded buildings,” Huelskamp challenged Tuesday afternoon. “Let’s see if they eat enough to function. Let’s see if they like having choices taken away from them.”".
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/02/congressman-challenges-usda-to-follow-own-school-lunch-restrictions/#ixzz28GNdjQeu.
zomg, its like, adults can eat whatever they want, espically when they pay for it themselves, vs a minor child eating a lunch provided by the federal government. Its crazy how life works.
The only difference between Michelle and Hillary is that Michelle Obama was able to get her "Let Us Starve the Children Skinny" initiative through while Hillary Clinton failed in her "Health Care" reform initiative. Neither one hold/held elected office at the time nor were they employees of the Federal Government. The First Ladies should not be allowed to dictate policy.
Michelle Obama stated ' I don't want to intervene in telling parents what there child should eat……..Another lie right therefrom Mrs. Obama just like her husband LIes and more lies! Have the Obama's been to the grocery store lately? The price for fruit and vegtables are EXPENSIVE , I'm tired of King and Queen Obama telling us " Let them eat Cake"( of course if we did we cake we would probably be jailed for it! Vote Romney!
How about: "Parents Want Feds to Stay Out of Our Homes."
Ever been in line behind people buying with food stamps? Not much healthy food in their basket. I see lots of cookies, chips, steaks, processed food and 10 year old obese children wanting to open the cookies before they get to their car. When I stop at the Quick shop I'll see a child buying candy for themselves and a couple of other kids they're with, with a swipe of the food stamp card. Those are the people Michelle is preaching to, but they ain't going to have any of it.
They will push until we push back.. then stop… then wait.. then start pushing again.
STOP VOTING THESE PEOPLE INTO OFFICE!
Turn around is fair play: http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/02/congressman-challenges-usda-to-follow-own-school-lunch-restrictions/.
What's fair is fair for all.
If the guilty foods aren't in the house they'll eat what's there.
If the guilty foods aren't in the house they'll eat what's there.
Oh no. They want to not have a country of fatasses. Given that the majority of people that I see daily with foodstamps wind up buying nothing but candy, energy drinks, chips and soda (The latter to sell for drug money) I can't say this is a bad idea… Now. Onward.
"The USDA urged parents to help reinforce the new school guidelines by providing similar meals at dinner time."
Turn around is fair play: http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/02/congressman-challenges-usda-to-follow-own-school-lunch-restrictions/.
What's fair is fair for all.
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it…..
OR…those that just don't KNOW the past! Read up on NAZI Germany of the 1930's. THIS sounds like a copy and past job right out of the history books! Hitler was a vegetarian..AND an anti smoker AND a fitness nut (for everyone but himself). "Eat healthy! Exercise! Stay healthy!"
Read it for your self. NAZISM (socialism) at it's best.
I remember when hitler came out and said "eat your broccoli!"
Hitler also is responsible for the interstate system and the jet engine. We should stop using those too because , zomg, hittler!
look people, with the drug war, which many of you support, we have already established that the government has the right to dictate what you can or can not put in your body for your own good – or what plant you can or can't grow in your own yard. How is Obama's war on food any different than the war that both Obama AND Romney support against a plant, which is technically also a food? If you truly want government to quit dictating our life choices, then quit being hypocites and fight to get ALL of these government do-gooders out of our personal choices.
I want the feds out of my life. People who eat ice cream die—————-so do people who eat carrots.
Screw the USDA! I know for a fact what has caused my child's weight gain and it sure as hell was not me over feeding her! It was caused by inhaled steroids! But it took five years of fighting with her doctors to get medical proof. The FDA and the USDA keep wanting to put the blame on parents and what our kids are eating. However, today's youth has the highest percentage of children who take some sort of steroid on a regular basis versus that of past generations. How about rather than wasting my time telling me how to be a parent and spend more time investigating the true cause of the majority of our over weight children which is the hormones that are pumped into our foods coupled with the medical community pushing inhaled or oral steroids for every little cough, scratch or itch!
I have three nieces of which two are extremely overweight for their age. The youngest is 9 and weighs over 200 lbs. She has breathing problems since birth. Her pediatrician overly prescribes steroids everytime she has even a sniffle. She send her home with refills on her steroids. This poor little girl is now having heart problems dye to her weight. Now the Dr is saying her weight gain is hereditary because her mom is overweight. That's not totally true. I think it due to her taking steroids of some form almost all her life. Her dad has recently put his foot down and quit giving them to her and she is finally starting to slowly loose some weight. I totally agree that it is not always what the parents feed a child. Drs need to take some accountability for the amount of medications they prescribe as well.
I hear that. I gained 50 pounds and was so puffy on prednisone and they left me on it too long that caused a cataract in my eye.
Weight gain is a simple formula for 99% of the population. Take in more calories than you burn = body stores it as fat. for the other 1% mediciations and genetic conditions (mostly related to the thyroid) do cause weight gain. But there are far more people that say its just there genes, when in reality its because they have no physical activity and eat too much.
Just because the first lady, attorney general an pretty sure a few Representatives need to shed a few. Does not give them the right to tell me how to feed my kids! I lead by example, age 46, 5'2 an 119lbs, mother of three, not one of my kids have a weight problem. Matter of fact long as I have been a mother longer then Mrs Obama why dont I come tell her how to parent!!! Instead of dictating how my childern are to eat.. Why dont they worry about how we can afford to feed are childern!!!
Chances are, your already following the USDA guidelines on feeding your kids, so why are you even worried about this? Think about the fact that 50% of the nations children are overweight and their kids just feed them pizza and kfc, and sit them infront of a xbox instead of letting them ride their bikes.
Thank goodness for Obamacare so they can reach down into my life and tell me what to do. I don't know how I survived all these years without their assistance. I AM VOTING FOR ROMNEY.
junk food is cheaper, the best way for the govornment to make its people "healthier" is to drop the cost of the healthier food not dictate what is allowed to be eaten and what isn't allowed. Most school lunches are horribly unhealthy, but so are lunchables, and those kid tv dinners. 850 calories is a LOT of food for a school lunch, I mean I had roughly 720 cals for lunch today, and I am just now starting to get really hungry.
I eat sandwiches through the day and have some meat once a day.
I eat sandwiches through the day and have some meat once a day.
lol at all you people. kids are allowed to buy more than one lunch and to bring their own lunch. your complaing that the federal government regulates school lunch like this is a new thing. Newsflah the school lunch program has always followed usda guide lines. howcan you complain that the federal government is regulating a federal program. ?
Yeah, they tried it in school, and the poor kids are HUNGRY…they WILL stay out of my home. These morons have to be voted out, although I believe obama will try to illegally stay in power….he's that narcissistic.