Parents of Toddlers, Help Make Changes to School Lunches Today

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I've been watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution lately. And I know it's reality TV so, of course, it's played up for entertainment purposes, but still.  I have a child who went to public school and I know how those school lunches are.  Not that healthy and certainly not very appetizing.  So why am I even telling you about school lunches when your wee toddlers are years away from that?  Well, it takes time to build a revolution.  If you get on board now instead of waiting until your child is already there in the trenches, you can hopefully help him avoid those gross lunches.  So, go on.  Watch the show.  Sign the petition.  Take a look at the blog of someone in the system who is chronicling school lunches every day.  Read a book on the subject.  Or two.  And then get involved with organizations or other concerned parents locally so that school lunches improve enough to benefit your child in the future.  Because an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, right?

And if you have a child who is in child care, the time to get involved in making sure lunches and snacks are healthy is also right now.  Many child care programs must follow licensing procedures that have food requirements that are very similar to those that govern public schools and the food can be just as processed and unhealthy.  French fries can still fulfill your child's vegetable requirement day after day after day.  If your child care provider participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, then they are probably getting a near replication of what your local public schools are serving and those guidelines can leave a lot of room for unhealthiness to creep in.  (Sure, the first ingredient must be chicken, pork, or beef, but there can be a long line of unchecked, processed ingredients and chemicals after that.)

So, stop by your child care center and ask to check things out.  Ask questions about the food that is served and if you're concerned about too many processed foods or not enough whole grains and colorful veggies, speak up.  As a parent, you are powerful and your voice can affect change.  Although, until that change happens, I advise packing a lunch for your child.

More Nutrition Resources:

• Books on Feeding Your Toddler (including packing healthy lunches)
• A Sample Toddler Menu
• Toddler Serving Sizes
• Healthy School Lunches
• Reduce Excessive Lunch Packaging