As summer winds down, parents begin to focus on the many back-to-school tasks ahead of them. The to-do-list may already feel long, but parents should commit to adding one more item: This year, take personal responsibility for feeding your children.
Some may be surprised that such an addition is necessary: Aren’t parents already performing this basic task? The truth is that, tempted by promises of “healthy” school meals, many moms and dads have been swayed to cede this responsibility to their local school. Many schools serve not just lunch but three meals a day so it’s not unusual for kids to be primarily fed, not at home
, but in a cafeteria setting.
, but in a cafeteria setting.
Sadly, government has applauded, even encouraged, this trend. The goal of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 wasn’t just to improve the quality of food served, but also to increase the number of children eating school lunches. Upon its passage, policymakers on both sides of the aisle praised the bill, but two years later, school lunches haven’t improved much and may have gotten worse.
lunches. Upon its passage, policymakers on both sides of the aisle praised the bill, but two years later, school lunches haven’t improved much and may have gotten worse.
Stories abound of massive waste, irritated and still-hungry children who refuse to eat the “new and improved” meals, and a thriving black market of snacks brought in from outside the schools. Vending machines have been stripped of the foods kids like to eat too.
. Vending machines have been stripped of the foods kids like to eat too.
Notwithstanding the overall student dissatisfaction with these new school meals, enrollment in the program has increased. Today, a whopping 32 million children receive school meals and these numbers are expected to rise even more due to a provision in the new law that allows children to be automatically enrolled in the program.
dissatisfaction with these new school meals, enrollment in the program has increased. Today, a whopping 32 million children receive school meals and these numbers are expected to rise even more due to a provision in the new law that allows children to be automatically enrolled in the program.
Taxpayers should note that the kids eating these meals aren’t all from needy families who can’t afford to pack a school lunch. In fact, middle-class and even affluent parents make use of government-subsidized school meals for their own convenience. The public should ask themselves: In an era of explosive government debt, calls for sequestration and shared sacrifice, why are taxpayers being asked to pay for parents who can’t find the time (literally, a few minutes) to make a homemade lunch for their school-aged children?
to pack a school lunch. In fact, middle-class and even affluent parents make use of government-subsidized school meals for their own convenience. The public should ask themselves: In an era of explosive government debt, calls for sequestration and shared sacrifice, why are taxpayers being asked to pay for parents who can’t find the time (literally, a few minutes) to make a homemade lunch for their school-aged children?
The breakdown of just who eats these meals bears this out. Of the five billion meals served during the 2011-12 school year, 33 percent were paid in full — meaning a large percentage of the kids eating these meals didn’t need or qualify for a free or reduced cost meal. In other words, these are kids whose parents can afford to pack them a lunch. According to the School Nutrition Association, on average, full priced school lunch costs $2.08. While that might seem reasonable, that’s a pretty high price to pay if kids won’t eat what’s being served.
meal. In other words, these are kids whose parents can afford to pack them a lunch. According to the School Nutrition Association, on average, full priced school lunch costs $2.08. While that might seem reasonable, that’s a pretty high price to pay if kids won’t eat what’s being served.
