Lessons from the Lunchlady: a hopin, fruit guzzlin', artificially flavored good time
This week we had the kitchen open for four of the five days. School was closed today in observation of Good Friday.
Here's what I learned...
Applesauce is a fruit. A kindergartener asked me with total sincerity if the applesauce he was holding was a fruit. "It's made with apples," I replied. "I know, but is it a fruit?". "Um...yes."
Dear Michelle, we are trying but we ain't quite there. As I walked around breakfast this week I noticed only four kids with white milk. The rest either had strawberry or chocolate. There is something utterly repulsive about Fruit Loops floating in strawberry milk or Rice Krispies bathed in chocolate. How do I get the kids to buy breakfast without offering flavored milk?
Autism Awareness. This week a group of kindergarteners visited barring gifts. Magnets supporting autism awareness. Since we have a autistic class in the building, it is very important that all the kiddos in our building understand the things that make us all unique. My magnet had a paper attached that said 1 out of 88 kids will be diagnosed with autism. That's staggering.
A hotdog and 2 oz of fruit. Does that sound like lunch? According to the National School Lunch Program it is. It has three elements--a protein, a grain and a fruit. Personally, I couldn't be happier that the regulations change next year to include at least one more element.
Again, I encourage you all to ask your child what they were offered vs. what they chose. You will probably be surprised.
Easter Egg hunts gross me out. Let me explain...no there is too much...let me sum up. This part of PA insists on using REAL hard boiled eggs in all of their hunts. Not what I am accustomed to. Those eggs arrive at our school before noon. They seldom get "hunted" before 1:30. They don't go home until 3:30. Now I am just guessing, but something tells me they aren't even close to 45 degrees.
What did you learn this week?
About Me
- kisatrtle
- I'm a 41 year old (gasp) freelance writer, school cafeteria manager, wife and mother. I have three children and one anxious and overweight beagle. I use my blog to make others laugh, to share some cool crafts, to document my lunchlady adventures and to lament about the challenges faced by us all on the journey called life. Thanks for visiting. Please leave some crack...um...I meant some comments.
7 random thoughts:
The thought of those eggs makes me shudder. Ew.
You learned some interesting things. I didn't know that statistic of 1 in 88. Wow, that's a lot of kids and it makes me realize how lucky I am to have children who don't have any learning disabilities. That is just 1 in 88 with Autism, just think of all the other disabilities there are.
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Easter!
Ugh. The whole point of eating Froot Loops is to watch the milk change color. If you start with colored milk, you defeat the whole purpose!
Ew on those eggs. Just ew. I make hardboiled eggs for my own kids at home to hunt, well, I used to. But that was then, when they were at home, and they ALWAYS get refrigerated immediately after the boiling, then pulled out to dye, then refrigerated, then hidden and found, and then refrigerated, and then prepped into things to eat.
Ew
I guess soya milk and mueslix is out of question!!! ;)
Happy Easter!
Hugs
Jon
Well I just learned that Applesauce is a fruit and that some people use real eggs for an easter egg hunt. Enjoyed your post.
I think advising parents to ask what there kids were offered vs. what they chose is great advice for opening up communication that could lead to the kids making better choices the next time.
Ugh on those eggs!! I could see a lot of food poisoning happening out your way from that!
And our school just totally revamped their lunch service to comply wih the new rules. I'm thankful to know at least fruit and veggies are offered now. According to my son, they weren't always. The hot dog thing seems wrong though. Very wrong.