Get Educated About School Lunches

If you’ve watched Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, you may be a little concerned about what your child is eating for lunch in school – and as a parent, you should be. School lunches have changed over the years. Now, in most schools, kids have choices as to what they eat for school lunch. As parents and as students, families should be educated on the best choices for a nutritious school lunch.           
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Having recently talked with several Eastern North Carolina schools about their nutrition programs, Crystal Coast Parent magazine is eager to share with parents some of the selections being served at lunchtime. Parents should be pleasantly surprised to know how healthy school breakfasts and lunches are in Eastern North Carolina.           
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We are fortunate that Child Nutrition directors in our area have been working to ensure nutritious meals for students, going above and beyond the mandated laws of both state and federal governments. School meals are required to contain one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowances for key nutrients including calories, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C.
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These nutrition standards also limit total fat (30% of calories or less) and saturated fat (10% of calories or less). Schools are encouraged, but not required, to reduce levels of cholesterol and sodium and increase the amounts of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber.           
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The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program has also helped to bring in a variety of offerings (including North Carolina produce) to our area schools, where at least one fresh fruit or vegetable is offered with each meal. In Lenoir County, fresh salads are offered three times a week to elementary level students. Onslow County Schools report that fresh salads are offered every single day. Vegetarian options are now available in school, and meals can also be made available for those with special diets and a doctor’s note.           
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Child Nutrition Directors in Carteret, Onslow, Lenoir and surrounding counties confirmed that whole milk is no longer available in our schools, and you will only find 1% or skim. Compared to your average 100% juice box, 1% milk has roughly the same calories, but offers protein, calcium and a third of the sugar, according to comparisons on www.nutritiondata.com.            
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By adding zucchini to the pizza sauce, applesauce to cookies and sweet potatoes to the spaghetti sauce, Carteret County Schools are sneaking in extra nutrients without the kids even realizing. Do you know the French fries are not fried, but baked? Many schools also offer sweet potato fries for added nutritional value.            
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When it comes to ketchup, it is not considered a vegetable by schools, to set any rumors straight. In addition, the bread options are all 51% wheat or whole grain, which applies to their rolls, pizza crust, buns and even the cookies (shhh… don’t tell the kids).
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Tilwanja Lucas, Director of Child Nutrition for Onslow County Schools, encourages parents to visit their school’s dining rooms and share a meal with your child. Says Lucas, “Child Nutrition wants to set your children up for daily and future success with food by feeding children what they are familiar with at home and what is healthy for them.” 
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When asked about children not eating foods because students think they don’t like that food or don’t want to try something new, Lucas urges parents to communicate with their children and encourage them to try new things and to eat healthy. Healthy eating habits should begin before children start school and should also be supported at home.           
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This upcoming school year, you can be confident that your child is being offered a healthy meal at school. Together, with our local schools, it is our responsibility to educate kids on the importance of eating nutritious meals and staying healthy. Explain what food options are available to your child at school, and that even though some foods may look or taste a little different than what kids are used to, these meal choices are healthy for children’s growing bodies.
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For additional information on the nutrition standards and food offerings at your child’s school, visit your county school system’s website or call or email the Child Nutrition Director for your child’s school system.
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Pege Yates is Community Director for Crystal Coast Parent magazine and mother to three school-age children, Gabriella (9), Drake (7), and Gavin (5), who she encourages every day to select the healthier food options at school when they are available. A special thanks to area Child Nutrition Directors Linda Fairchild (Carteret County), Tilwanja Lucas (Onslow County), and Child Nutrition Supervisor, Ernestine Ashford (Lenoir County), for sharing information on the continuing healthy strides that are taking place in our local public schools.
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