Hot Lunch

Because of how nutritional hot lunches have become, my children do not like them. I have to make them choose at least one a week so I can have a break from lunch making. So I would love it if my children came home asking, even though they cost $4.50 a meal because lunch making every day is exhausting to always be thinking what else would interest them?

I do.
Everyday.
My daughter's school has good lunches. Hot lunches every day at her school.
Better than my own sometimes, and I am a good healthy cook!

each school is different... I grew up on school lunches too. It was fine.
It had no junk in it.

all the best,
Susan

My son's school has awesome lunches. He begs to have them.
They have salads, pita pockets with baked chicken and sprouts. Nothing is fried or junk.
He's not a picky eater though and loves veggies and fruit so it's never been an issue other than wishing he could have more!
With all the hype about childhood obesity, diabetes, etc, most schools have really tried to alter the things they offer.
I really credit the head of the lunch programs we have for being so mindful and offering healthy meals. There's nothing wrong with treats now and then, but at school, dietary concerns for the lunch program pretty much take the lead.
Some kids like alternating "hot lunch" and home lunch, but if you were impressed by the foods they serve, I wouldn't hesitate to let your kid enjoy them.

Best wishes!

Wow! If schools around here had those lunches, I would be so happy! The lunches here are terrible. Processed everything!!

When my daughter stared school 10 years ago all school lunches were brown and looked like dog food. I did not want her to eat that and packed a lunch every day. And she brought it home every day. She wanted to eat at school and walk with the tray and get the food , yep I had a 5 year old on hungerstrike lol. So I caved. RIght around that time parents made a push to change menues at the schools in town. The parents approched the official at the Agricultural Departement and he stated that there was nothing wrong with DCPS lunches and he himself would eat them everyday. Well, we dared him and he was served the same food as the kids. On day 2 he said changes are needed and fast LOL. Since then lunches have gotten really good. For example, on Monday my daugher had a thin crust pizza with chicken and spinach ( no sauce or fatty cheeses) and a little parm. Today she said she had the best turkey burger ever, grilled on a whole wheat bun with lettcue and mustard. Everyday there is fresh fruit and a choice of salads. School lunches have come a long long way.

My daughter is 10 and going into 5th grade. She ate lunch at school quite a bit last year and probably will again this year. In MA they've passed a law banning the use of fryolators in schools and requiring that they offer fruit and non-fried vegetables wherever food is sold. Even before the law, the lunches offered by my daughters school were pretty healthy. Also the way they do it is you send in a check and put money on an account for them. This way you never have to worry about them forgetting or lose their lunch money. I think that most schools have come a long way in this area since we were kids!

Our hot lunches are $2, that's pricey!
They serve what sounds really good, but when you go in to actually see or taste the food, it's pretty gross.

In short, no we don't do hot lunches.

I do, although I wish my son's school lunches were more nutritious and had more food. I opted for the hot lunch because I found out he was throwing out my lunches (about $4 of nutritious food) and not eating at all. The kids who bring their lunch do not have to eat where there are "lunch monitors" so many of them don't eat at all and just play all lunch time. At least he is getting some food and I am not having my paycheck thrown in a garbage can.

I have fond memories of being able to eat hot lunch. It was a great switch up from a sandwich. Although our generation of moms are a bit more creative with our kids lunches.

S.

I have been REALLY impressed with the elementary my son attends as a prek student. I still prefer to send his lunch, and I never allow him to buy lunch on days that ground beef is served, but I have been letting him buy it on occasion when we're running late or something. They have some fatty options now and then, but for the most part the breakfasts and lunches are great! He eats breakfast there every day. They have whole wheat waffles with yogurt and berries, eggs and turkey sausage, choices of cereal w/organic 1% milk, steel cut oatmeal, etc. For lunch they have lots of baked and steamed choices, whole wheat products and fruit. So yes, as long as you can monitor the menu choices and they're healthy, I say go ahead sometime!

My daughters' school last year had its own chef (this was a private school), and she made everything from scratch. On spaghetti day, she made the sauce from real tomatoes and then used fresh herbs from the school's garden, she made the pasta (whole wheat) from scratch... every menu was that way. Sometimes she'd barbeque chicken breasts for them and make pilaf, or barbeque kebabs and veggies. It was really fantastic food.

Then the economy happened to us, and we had to put the kids in public school. The school itself seems fine, but the hot lunches are disgusting. Sure, they don't fry anything, but although the menus sound healthy, I've seen what they serve and it isn't pretty. So I'm making the kids' lunches every day now. I guess in our area the public school lunches are made in a central kitchen somewhere and then transported to the school, which would be fine if they were using any kind of decent ingredients to begin with, but... they're not. =-/ It's disappointing. I'm a huge Jamie Oliver fan, maybe I'll lead the food revolution in our school district. =-D

Our school district offers the same stuff but it is still all processed food - limp veggies, fruits I wouldn't eat (soggy and bruised), boiled meat (hamburgers) and baked fries that are limp. I only allow them to buy once a week, mainly due to the cost, but my kids also hate the food so they may not even buy once a week. I am a sub and I've learned my lesson with the menu, it sounds good until I actually 'see' the food :)

I believe school lunches are getting bettter, but for the most part it appears that they are still mostly processed food. Also, my children won't eat most of it. I prefer to send them with food I know they will eat. Also, I don't like them spending over 1/2 their lunch period waiting in line.

I like the once a week option.

A lot of schools are upgrading their lunches, due to community pressure (sales were down) and also due to research showing that the stuff they've been serving is related to childhood obesity, diabetes, etc. and affects learning/retention.

The time spent in line is a good point. Does your child want to buy lunch because it's fun to buy, or does he want a HOT lunch? If the first, allow a certain number per week, and let him choose which days. If the second, get a good heat-proof container (like a thermos) and give him your own food that stays hot. Be sure it's a container that seals tightly and he can also open himself. Include at least 2 spoon/forks in case he breaks or drops it, or buy a "spork" in the camping/outdoor section of any major department store. Re-using containers is a big thing - a lot of schools are working on recycling with the kids, so definitely invest in something that will last.

It REALLY depends on the school. Also as to which choices the child themselves make AND how many choices they are allowed to make.

My son loves fresh fruit..BUT... he had to choose between fresh fruit or more traditional dessert (cookie, pudding, etc). The cookie won out each and every single time. Ditto the other "choices". While the school had some *great* choices (better than the 'between 2 evils' thing a lot of schools have), because he wasn't allowed to just eat what he wanted (aka both of this but none of that)... it didn't work out well.

I still let him buy once a week (unless I'd forgotten the night before then more), but it was mostly because he REALLY liked the standing in line part. (kids are funny that way, they get thrilled about things we got sick of years ago).

The school we were *considering* going to for 1st grade had *phenom* lunches. But they were $15 each. Ouch. $75 a week was just not in the budget, but had it been (and had we decided not to homeschool) I would have been REALLY happy with him eating their lunches every day.

L.,
Every school is different. We also have a really great hot lunch option (no fried foods, no pudding/cookie snacks included, and always salad or deli options). They even have the high school students in the cooking program come in to make fresh pizzas or other items. Having said that, my son is also a slow eater like one of the other moms. The time he spends in line always takes up so much of his lunch time, so I only let him have hot lunch if it something super special that I know he will eat fast (like the home made pizzas). As other moms also pointed out, you can pack the best lunch in the world, but there is no guarantee they are eating it. I don't know if you son would like the idea or not, but when my son firsted started school I had lunch with him a few times to monitor his eating habits (lots of talking and little chewing). Anyway, I am glad to see more and more school systems wsing up to the importance of a good diet.
Good luck and trust your gut (pun intended).
C.

I might stick with the one time a week unless you don't have time to pack an appropriate lunch. Most school lunches offer choices, processed food and then some fresh fruits, veggies and some whole grains. The kids are offered a choice and unfortunately don't always choose well. What I do is pack my girls lunch with a large variety of food daily. They can, while at school choose what they feel like eating and I feel good about any choice they make out of the lunch box. It also is less wasteful as I pack everything in reusable containers...hot lunch used disposable styrofoam. My kids never come home hungry or with a lack of an immediate after school snack. So no after school temptations to grab a bag of chips and just eat. Visit during lunch a couple of times and see what the real offerings look like and discuss them with your child and the reasons why you choose the direction you decide to go with.