Sep 19, 2012
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Students, parents, and teachers in a tiny Kansas school district have launched a revolt against new federal school lunch guidelines by producing a video parody that shows hungry children collapsing in classrooms and ends with students burning copies of the government regulations.
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Residents in Sharon Springs, Kan. say the regulations mandated by The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 have resulted in more hungry kids. And under the guidelines, teachers would be in violation of the law by giving hungry children an extra chicken tender.
So, students and faculty members joined forced to produce the music video. And their message is simple – let Kansans run their own lunch rooms instead of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
The video is performed to the tune of the song “We Are Young.” The lyrics read: “We are hungry. Set the policy on fire. It can burn brighter than the sun.”
The video shows children collapsing from hunger during athletic events while others raid the school kitchen in search of food. Another student can be seen wearing a shirt that reads: “I love beef.”
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) told Fox News the tiny school district has managed to explain the chief complaint over the Obama administration’s guidelines.
“The whole purpose was to enhance their nutrition and actually the opposite is happening,” said Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS). “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.”
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.
“Any parent would look at some of these lunch trays and say that’s not enough food for my kid for a seven-hour school day,” Huelskamp told Fox News.
That’s why he 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.
That’s what Dave Porter would like to see happen. He’s the superintendent of Wallace County Schools – home to some 200 students.
“Our kids are not getting the fuel they need under the new federal guidelines,” Porter told Fox News. “It’s basically just not enough food.”
Porter praised the students and teachers involved in creating the parody – calling it an “unofficial” school protest” – that had his blessing.
“There is a right way to revolt and there is a wrong way,” he said. ‘I consider this to be the right way – showing creativity and bringing public awareness to what is considered to be – I don’t know if you want to go so far as to call it an injustice.”
Porter said he’s hearing from educators across Kansas just as upset at the federal government’s rules.
The biggest issue is portion size. For example – last year students were given five chicken tenders at lunch. But this year they are only getting three. And local schools are forbidden under the law from giving children additional food.
“This is what is dictated to us,” Porter said.
It’s especially difficult in Sharon Springs because many of the children work on family farms – and need those extra calories.
“They are just not getting the fuel they need under the new federal guidelines,” Porter said.
Huelskamp said the most “damning evidence” that Obama’s regulations are not working is coming from school cooks.
“They tell me ‘We can’t meet these mandates and it will mean less kids will participate in the school lunch program,’” he said.
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.”
The congressman and the superintendent said they wholly support healthy eating – but there needs to be some common sense added to the mix.
“Obesity is an enormous problem,” Huelskamp said. “It’s probably not the overwhelming problem the First Lady makes it out to be. It is not the number one threat to our national security as Michelle Obama has referred to.”
But he did say there was a bigger problem.
“What’s even a bigger problem is an obese overweight federal government that wants to mandate everything – including what goes in our kids’ mouths,” he said.
Todd is the author of Dispatches From Bitter America — endorsed by Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Mark Levin and Sean Hannity. Click here to get your copy!
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WE Need the Gov to stay the hell out of our schools….. No wonder my kids are always "Starving" when they get home from school!
Oh. HEAVENS FORBID YOUR CHILDREN EAT VEGETABLES AT LUNCH. FASCISM IN ACTION OMGGGZzzZ!
We should control what our kids eat NOT THE GOV
We should decide what our kids eat not the GOV. If people need the GOV to handle this maybe they should not be parents
We should control what our kids eat NOT THE GOV
We should decide what our kids eat not the GOV. If people need the GOV to handle this maybe they should not be parents
Only problem is that the kids aren't eating the veggies, the trash cans are full of them. So far they aren't forcing the kids to eat the food that they don't like or don't want to eat, which is most of what they are now mandated to feed the kids.
Lin-z Tunak Tunak I Dont need to GOV to tell me what to feed my kids, people who
need the GOV maybe should not have kids
They did an excellent job on the video! I hope it helps them get some of their lunch back.
Posted! =D
Posted! =D
They did an excellent job on the video! I hope it helps them get some of their lunch back.
That is hysterical! Great job!
Sooo it's bad when students are asked to sign a pledge to vote for Obama, but OK for them to make a video opposing his policies? There is no end to the hypocrisy on this site. I'm all for kids having a voice and freedom of speech and all that. But if this video were opposing a Romney policy, I have a feeling Todd and company would be up in arms about it instead of supporting it.
Way to go Sharon Springs Ks. Two thumbs up for the video.
Way to go Sharon Springs Ks. Two thumbs up for the video.
Maybe its time for parents to take back their roll as responsible parents and send their kids to school with home made lunches and not depend on the state to feed them.
all it takes is personal responsability. If taught right and kids got the exercise they used to get along with food that sustained them through out the day then we wouldn't have as many over weight kids. When I was a teenager I ate more than my Mother and step father combined.
I agree Joe. It is sad to see what is happening. My Grandmother made the best lunches on earth. And very high calories too. But I always burned them off. Of course back in the day the school lunches were pretty good. They cooked better than my Mom! My favorite was meat gravy over mashed potatoes with fogocia bread. MMMMM. Now the kids are lucky to get anything even considered edible.
Most parents ARE paying for these lunches–the government isn't feeding them. Many children want HOT meals, which you can't get if the parent is sending a COLD lunch to school in the AM.
If you send a cold lunch, it also has to meet the guidelines, or in some schools, they will throw away the WHOLE LUNCH and charge you with the cost of a hot meal for the child….even if the child doesn't eat it. In a school near here, there are people discussing homeschooling because of this policy.
If you send a cold lunch, it also has to meet the guidelines, or in some schools, they will throw away the WHOLE LUNCH and charge you with the cost of a hot meal for the child….even if the child doesn't eat it. In a school near here, there are people discussing homeschooling because of this policy.
Isn't that sad? Our governemnt now tells our children what they can and con not eat. All I can say is. Private or home school.
I went to a country school without a lunch program in Wyoming during the 70's. My Mom heated my food in the morning and put it in a thermos. It worked great then and would work now too. I now live in TN and most of the High School kids I know, now take their lunches because they can't get full on what is offered to them. School starts at 7:00a.m. they eat lunch at 10:40 a.m., school gets out at 2:00pm but I don't pick up from volleyball until after 4:00pm. When I pick up the band and the football boys are still practicing. My daughter is starving and she packs a good lunch, plus a snack to eat before volleyball. Honestly, the active kids are hungry!
The problem with home made lunches is that they are mandating what can and cannot be in those too.
The problem with home made lunches is that they are mandating what can and cannot be in those too.
They don't know how. Look at Bloomberg, and the soda, tonic, pop, coke what have you max amount you can buy 16 ounces. Trans fats gone, salt. Libtards will show and tell you what you need to know, learn and eat, and depend on the government for everything.Run BHO run. See BHO run.
This is no joke…. our tiny little school in Colorado (farmers and ranchers like our neighbors in Sharon Springs KS), stepped out of the National School Lunch Program, and is absorbing the cost of the government reimbursement for the Free/Reduced students. That's the choice…. follow the rules we mandate, or lose the reimbursement. Apparently the cottage cheese, chopped ham, eggs, and all protein had to be removed from the salad bar! Proud to say we chose the latter and feed our kids!
I know of one school that stayed on the NSLP and the kids are hungery all the time. Im glad they chose to not be gov. mandated! YEA for us! Thank You to those who made this decision!
I know of one school that stayed on the NSLP and the kids are hungery all the time. Im glad they chose to not be gov. mandated! YEA for us! Thank You to those who made this decision!
fabulous news!!
fabulous news!!
Thanks for your bravery! We need more people telling the Feds to step aside sometimes — they've stuck their noses into WAY too many of our lives, on WAY too many details that simply don't need a Fed nanny state controlling us.
Thank you, Sharon Springs schools for telling our federal government to stay out of your school lunchrooms. You are to be commended for absorbing the cost of the government reimbursement – to provide healthy, life-sustaining meals to your students. Hopefully, the rest of the Kansas USD's will follow suit. It is past time for local school districts to run their own schools and show the federal its help is not needed. Kansas schools, I know were/are forced to follow fed guidelines in order to get financial support – but, thank you, Sharon Springs for taking a much needed stand. I recall years ago when Russell, (my hometown) was incorporating the smaller towns school and a Mr Schmidt paid for the town of Gorham schools to stay Gorham schools. Eventually, that ended. (of interest to me – my Mother, Frances Faye Benso Beveridge, taught one room school in Russell County and Gorham schools. STAND STRONG SMALL TOWNS.
Good for you feed your kids I do. They eat breakfast every morning and I pay $30.00 a week for my two middle schoolers to ear school lunch they have no complaints. My high schoolers chooses to use her allowance to purchase her own lunch from the neighborhood restaurants…her choice. Never the less my son loves the free chicken salads their school sometimes opted to it and leaving his lunch account with a big credit.
Good for you feed your kids…I do. Lunch should not be the biggest meal of the day I was always taught breakfast should be and to eat in portions. This is why this country is so sickly. Full of cancer, diabetes and obesity. We eat too much. And now we are passing our bad habits down to our kids…all of them! I pay $30.00 a week for my two middle schooler's lunches for the week. But my son really enjoyed the free chicken salads he got from his pass school not even using his lunch money. Neither of my kids are obese. As a cancer survivor I promote healthy eating and no gluttony in my family. So if u choose to fix your children lunches then do that. My kids have options to fix lunch or eat at school and they choose to eat at school and they don't complain. As a parent, in the past I thought school lunches were gross when I'd go have lunch with my oldest daughter when she was a kid, she is in her twenties now. We can complain about the school lunches and honestly I have a bigger complaint about the No child left behind program.
I like this. As a New Yorker living in a city where our RINO mayor Bloomberg tries to tell us how much soda we can buy at one time I can empathize with these Kansas students, we can make our own decisions on food.
Michelle Obama should eat what she is pushing onto everyone else…. has anyone else noticed with every new picture that comes out of her, that her hips and butt keeps getting bigger and bigger…. she looked like she was wearing a tent at the DNC…. shame they should block all images on the internet unless one decides to view it or them… nothing worse than a picture of her and or him popping up no matter what website I go to… that's something a dictator would do…
White people have some nerve to talk about dictatorship after dictating other races for centuries….you people hate being on the other side of dictatorship…your reign is over
Jennifer Bruce-Allen… White people….. talk about racist!!! I do see however that you agree that the Obama's are nothing more than dictators!!! Oh, and just for giggles, what part of my eagle says I'm white? I held my hand up next to a white piece of paper and its not even close… bahahahahahaha now go bow before your King and kiss the ring he wears!!!
I'm a school cook in a small comunity, we had good homemade food. The kids had a good breakfast because they cannot learn on an empty tummy. But now It's just the opposite the kinders and pre-schoolers all the way to the 8th grade get the same amount. For some of these kids that's the best meal of their day and it should not leave them needing more.
EXCELLENT comment.
There are two places that government has no business going into: Our homes and our schools. Good for Sharon Springs, KS.
There are two places that government has no business going into: Our homes and our schools. Good for Sharon Springs, KS.
And in the case of POTUS, in the White house!
And in the case of POTUS, in the White house!
This pretty well proves the absence of men from the educaton business. Adolescent boys, particularly those participating in athletics and living on farms, need an astonishing amount of calories. I remember taking five sandwiches a day plus fruit and dessert to my 7th & 8th grade classes at the very rural West Marin Elementary School in California. I took almost as much to high school and still had their hot lunch when I was a wrestler.
This pretty well proves the absence of men from the educaton business. Adolescent boys, particularly those participating in athletics and living on farms, need an astonishing amount of calories. I remember taking five sandwiches a day plus fruit and dessert to my 7th & 8th grade classes at the very rural West Marin Elementary School in California. I took almost as much to high school and still had their hot lunch when I was a wrestler.
Oh please…this whole video sounds like a fat guy justifying an extra slice of pie. Some people need MORE than 800 calories at lunch? Yes, professional athletes. Let's all try to ignore the 30% obesity rate in KS. Their freedom ends when they start effecting my insurance costs because they’re too lazy and selfish to eat right.
And the fact that this tripe is championed by Fox’s head Butterbean, Todd Starnes is the icing on the 800 calorie cake
Well good for those kids and more power to them. McKenyan and Mooooooshell can take their Leftist regulations and stick'em where the sun dares not shine.
Well good for those kids and more power to them. McKenyan and Mooooooshell can take their Leftist regulations and stick'em where the sun dares not shine.
story was conflicting between kids not having enough to eat and food being thrown away.
“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.”.
The trash can is where the vegetables the kids cannot refuse end up.
Love it! Great Video!
Wonder what Obama's kids have for lunch!
I'm from the town this video was made in and found this video to be awesome!! I even used to babysit several of the kids featured & glad they stood up for something to believe in!
I bet Obama's kids don't have to worry about their lunches. They probably get 5 star lunches catered to them daily.
Ok fatasses, just stay out of our tax dollars when you need health care nor being obese……
wow howard you liked your own post. That is pretty sad little boy.
Ok fatasses, just stay out of our tax dollars when you need health care nor being obese……
God forbid someone teach your children what a healthy meal looks like.
Melinda, the problem isn't with teaching them what a healthy lunch is, the problem is they are not getting enough to eat. I love it that they are getting more fruits and veggies but they also need more protein. Peas and apple slices just don't get my son through the day.
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for protein are based on body weight and include age-related adjustments for the extra protein needed for growth, said nutritionists at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Healthy 1-to-3-year-old children need 0.55 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day, which means the average 29-pound toddler needs 16 grams of protein each day. The RDAs for older children are 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight for 4-to-6-year-olds; 0.45 grams for 7-to-14-year olds; and 0.4 grams for 15-to-18-year-old boys. The RDA for girls over 15 and boys over 18 is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight, the same as for adults.
Even if your kids are not getting ungodly amounts of meat, they can still get all the protein they need from dairy foods, grain products and vegetables. A one-ounce serving of cheese, a cup of milk, an extra-large egg, two tablespoons of peanut butter or one-half cup of beans provide six to eight grams of protein each, which is about the same amount in each ounce of lean meat, fish and poultry. There are also two to four grams of protein in each serving of breads and cereals and one to three grams in a serving of most vegetables.
If your 8 year old child wights 90 lbs the only need about 40grams they average American gets WAY more then that in a day. On thing we seem to not realize is how many grams of protein are in non-meat products.
This is perfectly fine for an average American child that watches several hours of TV and plays video games every day after school. These kids do chores before school, they lift weights several times a week, and 90% of them are involved in football, volleyball, or cross country. The 80 pound 6th grade girl that doesn't participate in sports is offered the same meal as the 200 pound high school football player.
Evaluation of protein requirements for trained strength athletes published by PubMed.gov
Protein requirements for athletes performing strength training are greater than for sedentary individuals and are above current Canadian and US recommended daily protein intake requirements for young healthy males.
even the fruit and veggies are rationed. My kids love fruit and veggies but they can only get a set amount.
Melinda – it is great for them to show them what a healthy lunch looks like, but not that great if the kids look at it and decide that is not what they want to or will eat. And when they eat the parts they are willing to eat, and skip those they aren't willing to eat, and the food ends up in the trash can, what real good does that do for the kids?
As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. You can show these kids what a healthy diet looks like, but, so far at least, the gov't isn't trying to force them to eat it. Kids are going to eat what they want and toss the rest no matter how healthy that food might be for them.
When I was going to school we brownbagged it four days every week, only buying school lunches on Wed's, which when I was a kid was Mexican food day in Texas, and it was made there in the school cafeteria and was damn good. Enchiladas, spanish rice and refried beans. Probably would no longer be considered suitable to feed kids, but it was good. Almost all the kids bought school lunches on Wednesdays. It cost 30 cents a meal and included milk as well, whole milk at that. And we hardly had any overweight kids in our school back then. But we had recess in elementary school, where we ran, or played sports. All of the kids had to take part in the Presidential fitness program, where we had to run a half mile (in elementary school) and do other athletic tasks, and most of us rode our bikes to school, and we were largely very fit.
Melinda – it is great for them to show them what a healthy lunch looks like, but not that great if the kids look at it and decide that is not what they want to or will eat. And when they eat the parts they are willing to eat, and skip those they aren't willing to eat, and the food ends up in the trash can, what real good does that do for the kids?
As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. You can show these kids what a healthy diet looks like, but, so far at least, the gov't isn't trying to force them to eat it. Kids are going to eat what they want and toss the rest no matter how healthy that food might be for them.
When I was going to school we brownbagged it four days every week, only buying school lunches on Wed's, which when I was a kid was Mexican food day in Texas, and it was made there in the school cafeteria and was damn good. Enchiladas, spanish rice and refried beans. Probably would no longer be considered suitable to feed kids, but it was good. Almost all the kids bought school lunches on Wednesdays. It cost 30 cents a meal and included milk as well, whole milk at that. And we hardly had any overweight kids in our school back then. But we had recess in elementary school, where we ran, or played sports. All of the kids had to take part in the Presidential fitness program, where we had to run a half mile (in elementary school) and do other athletic tasks, and most of us rode our bikes to school, and we were largely very fit.
I work at a school for teenage boys so I see what the kids are feed. It does not look bad most days.
However my kids do not have to deal with school system food. So I cant say I feel your pain I will say that if more parents started at a young age giving their kids carrot sticks and exposing their kids to new Healthy foods everyday, we would not have all the over wight kids we have in the school system. I will also Say i cant believe how hard you all fight for the right for your kids to die of heart problems and diabetes.
However my kids do not have to deal with school system food. So I cant say I feel your pain. My kids have to deal with a crazy mom everyday making them eat Asparagus, Humus, Leeks, Veggie burgers, Roasted Chicken NEVER fried, freshly baked whole grain bread that they help make and if they are lucky a sweet treat only once a week. Maybe you all need to start teaching your OWN kids what a healthy meal is by eating them yourself. And stop fighting for your right to poison your kids.
When i was in school in the Regan years I only remember ONE lunch that everyone would eat. other then that it all taste like hospital food.
That's wonderful that you feed your kids well and healthy, and feeding kids healthier foods at school is great too. That is not the problem. The problem is that the kids may be at school for extremely long hours and what they feed them does not get them through the day. I know when I was in high school there were days I would get to school at 630 and would not get home until 8 or 830 and the lunch was not enough to help focus even in the early afternoon. When I got home I still had chores to do so I might not eat supper until 9 or 930. There is a difference between feeding these kids health food, and health food with substance.
In that case send them a snack from home. Plus don't they have a breakfast program for kids that are there early? They do here in Maryland.
Like i said my issue is that parents / adults seem to providing a bad role model by screaming where is my hotdogs and pizza. Schools very much may need to increase the fruits and veggie portions. But i am sick of hearing people scram for junk food. FEED YOUR OWN KIDS if you don't like it you all don't like social programs anyway. Yes the school lunch program is a social program and so is sending your kids to school.
Im sorry public or charter schools. Oh wait private schools get tax cuts so yea unless you home school you are guilty of getting a government hand out when you send your kids to school.
I am screaming, "Quit giving my kids hot dogs!" Melinda, you have no idea what they are feeding these kids. Just because they offer more fruits and veggies doesn't make it a healthy meal. My kids have been served hot dogs, corn dogs, pigs-in-a-blanket, chicken strips, and rib patties. What the heck is a rib patty?? At home they eat no processed food, lean meat, and tons of vegatables and fruit. Who is screaming for hot dogs?
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/19/3821768/kansas-missouri-on-track-for-top.html
Why is the school giving food to kids? School is for teaching: focus on that.
Isn't that the parents job / reponsibility?
If they do tell you to have less calories during one meal, what is the big deal?
We are dying of obesity here.
Why do we need soda machines in the school?
Obesity is the #2 cause of preventable death in the United States.
60 million Americans, 20 years and older are obese.
9 million children and teens ages 6-19 are overweight.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of health conditions and diseases including: Breast cancer, Coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, Sleep apnea, Gallbladder disease, Osteoarthritis, Colon cancer, Hypertension and Stroke.
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/19/3821768/kansas-missouri-on-track-for-top.html
Why is the school giving food to kids? School is for teaching: focus on that.
Isn't that the parents job / reponsibility?
If they do tell you to have less calories during one meal, what is the big deal?
We are dying of obesity here.
Why do we need soda machines in the school?
Obesity is the #2 cause of preventable death in the United States.
60 million Americans, 20 years and older are obese.
9 million children and teens ages 6-19 are overweight.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of health conditions and diseases including: Breast cancer, Coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, Sleep apnea, Gallbladder disease, Osteoarthritis, Colon cancer, Hypertension and Stroke.
So I guess hungry is healthier….I for one want my children and grandchildren to eat healthy AND have enough of it to be able to function the rest of the day!!! This is NOT a Third World Country where there is any reason for children to be hungry at school!
So I guess hungry is healthier….I for one want my children and grandchildren to eat healthy AND have enough of it to be able to function the rest of the day!!! This is NOT a Third World Country where there is any reason for children to be hungry at school!
You are what you eat. And if you choose twinkies over an apple then I guess your full of the same crap they are. But I would agree that there are not enough calories for some of the students. My son is in 8th grade and almost 6 feet tall. And as thin as Barack. I am paying for his freebie lunch AND any extras he needs.
You are what you eat. And if you choose twinkies over an apple then I guess your full of the same crap they are. But I would agree that there are not enough calories for some of the students. My son is in 8th grade and almost 6 feet tall. And as thin as Barack. I am paying for his freebie lunch AND any extras he needs.
I remember our school having the best food ever and when michelle obama thojght of this crap she obviously was only thinking about her ghetto schools. Not amazing schools like wchs. LACE UP GIRL, YOUVE MET YOUR MATCH!
I Posted On This As Well Jess-Thanks 4 Posting It & Sharing-I'll Have 2 Go Back In & C What Comments R Being Made-Something Has 2 Be Done About This!!!
my kiddos like the new menus.
Probably because they don't know how wallace county school lunch used to be.
I don't think she was merely thinking of "ghetto" schools…what an ignorant comment. childhood obesity and diabetes is clearly on the rise…kids even have high cholesterol–and not just in 'ghetto' communities.
Ghetto schools? Are u her match or those greedy kids on that silly video….It's still up to county government what's on their school menus…
If you don't like it you never had to watch it or read it. and greedy? No . More like well educated. Ghetto may have been too harsh for the first lady. I'm sure shes never been so disrespected in her life. Obiously y'all are defending her for your own opinions. Which is why I didn't go through and post it on everyone elses walls. Just mine.
Thats great, but are they 250 pound football players who need the calories?
I agree that the problem isn't that the kids are getting healthier fods, its the portions and the proteins…even with the daily recommendations these kids are hungry…high school athletes are burning more calories then they are consuming….my two teenage daughters are very fit and healthy but they have both lost 10 lbs they didn't need to lose due to the lunches….I feel like they should put more P.E. back into school not change the way these kids eat….this is America where we can be anyone we want to be isn't it?
I agree that the problem isn't that the kids are getting healthier fods, its the portions and the proteins…even with the daily recommendations these kids are hungry…high school athletes are burning more calories then they are consuming….my two teenage daughters are very fit and healthy but they have both lost 10 lbs they didn't need to lose due to the lunches….I feel like they should put more P.E. back into school not change the way these kids eat….this is America where we can be anyone we want to be isn't it?
Feed those students! AND who has the wonderful voice singing that protest song? It's great.
That burger has pretty much everything you need for one meal. Switch to a more nutricious lettuce and there you are.
This stupid program is not addressing the real problem; children these days aren't getting enough exercise. School systems in my local area have cut way back on recess time due to pressure from required state and federal standardized testing standards. They'll substitute a recess period with special classes such as test-taking skills. As a former school counselor, I know this because I was often the one teaching such classes.
Back when I was in school K-12 (a very long time ago,) school lunches were full of high calorie foods such as pizza, spaghetti, hamburgers, etc. Child obesity was virtually nonexistent, however. What has so changed so dramatically?
Again, I would blame lack of exercise as the main culprit. There were only a few days of standardized testing during the entire school year 30-40 years ago, so we had recess several times a day plus P.E. classes. In addition, there were no computers, video games, texting, etc., and children spent their free time outside playing kickball, going to the park and riding their bikes instead of sitting idle in front of electronics.
I also believe that the rate of adult obesity has increased due to the same issues (i.e. sitting at computers all day, watching more TV due to cable program access.) Although I haven't done research on the topic, I would bet that the rate of obesity for both children and adults has incrementally increased with the advent of advanced electronics.
Adjusted school lunch menus/calories are not the answer to controlling obesity in children. This is not the business of government anyway. Ask any rational nutritionist, doctor or dietitian about required ingredients for proper child growth, and they'll tell you that a certain amount of fat is absolutely necessary in their diets.
I'm glad the Sharon Springs kids had the courage to stand up to the President and First Lady. Hopefully they will hear and see how bad it has become when our siblings and kids are coming home from school starving to death! My dad was born and raised in Sharon Springs and now my little brother goes to school there. He happens to be one of the football players in the video. I'm glad the kids are showing how they feel because its not just them. My sister goes to school in Dighton, Ks and can't concentrate in class after lunch because she is thinking of her granola bar that she is gonna eat at recess! Also, my mom has sent her to school multiple times this year with a sack lunch to eat WITH the hot meal that my mom has already paid for. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the kids getting more fruits and veggies, but give the kids something that will tide them over for longer! We live in beef country and BEEF…IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER!!! Again, good job Sharon Springs for standing up for what's right for you and your fellow schools!
Gosh, I don't think I saw one obese child in this video!!!
Feed your kids before they go to school…they should have at least 3 meals a day anyway. Are u a member of the 47 percent depending solely on the government to feed your kids
I don't have any kids. But, my siblings are the reason I voiced my opinions. Yes, they do eat breakfast. And no, I'm not one of the 47%. But I think if the schools are going to provide a meal then it should be more than what they are getting now. As I stated above, my sibling has taken a sack lunch to eat along with the hot meal so she isn't starving 45 minutes later.
Kalynn, I believe Jennifer's comment, "Are you a member of the 47% depending solely on the government to feed your kids", is DISGUSTING! You plainly said your mom sent your sister to school multiple times this year with a sack lunch to eat with the hot meal she already PAID for…..AND a granola bar!!! There ARE still people in the world who do NOT rely on the government to feed their kids!!! SHEESH…..!!!! Your reply was WAY too nice!!!! Kudos to your mom!!!!
Kalynn, I believe Jennifer's comment, "Are you a member of the 47% depending solely on the government to feed your kids", is DISGUSTING! You plainly said your mom sent your sister to school multiple times this year with a sack lunch to eat with the hot meal she already PAID for…..AND a granola bar!!! There ARE still people in the world who do NOT rely on the government to feed their kids!!! SHEESH…..!!!! Your reply was WAY too nice!!!! Kudos to your mom!!!!
Thank you, Janice for your kind words. I try not to get too "mean" haha! My mom just wants my sister to feel satisified. And my sister and brother are not obese at all! My only hope is that something good comes out of this situation!
Thank you, Janice for your kind words. I try not to get too "mean" haha! My mom just wants my sister to feel satisified. And my sister and brother are not obese at all! My only hope is that something good comes out of this situation!
Any video Sarah Palin has endorsed is a JOKE!
Where does it say Sarah Palin endorsed the video?
Thanks, Scott. I was so miffed when I read the calories they were forcing on the schools, and so proud of what Sonya's school did! It is time for all to opt out and take care of the kids, and let those that want to take a cold lunch. One comment made it sound so terrible to take a cold lunch. My husband STILL takes a cold lunch, most days, or some soup on others…nothing wrong with that.
Alice Cav was complaining about the lunches and I didn't know it was a federal thing. The "full" lunch comes with crummy fruit and the "a la carte" is more expensive by far. Something needs to be done.
I'm so glad to see someone bring light to this subject. We live in Indiana, and my son just started Middle School. He said the main entree portion is the same as in elementary school, and he is still hungry most days after eating his meal. Meanwhile, as a parent, my cost for said smaller lunch continue to rise, but the portions shrink. I think we need to consider the age of the children involved. Middle school students involved in sports and extra activities need more calories at lunch. When you eat breakfast at 7 in the morning and then only get three chicken tenders at lunch, that just isn't enough to make it til 6 at night. This is a serious issue and something needs to done about this. I feel for children who go home to nothing to eat….they really must be starving!
Yea it is terrible this is some kids only meal of the day and sometimes it is not even a meal you can not call nachos and cheese a lunch or bread sticks with spaghetti sauce a lunch just crazy government feeds the prisons better then this
This is sad. Now the kids are suffering from our government and its sad sad state. No child left behind is as much of a failure as this. No child should go hungry.
That's right- IF YOU WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE FOOD- THEY GET TO CHOOSE WHAT KIND THEY PAY FOR! Say what you will, but it's up to YOU and ME and ALL Parents to teach our children healthy eating habits. Don't like it? Guess you'll have to pay for it yourself and stop letting the government do it!