01/23/2012:
"Wow that was really interesting, thank you so much :) "
01/10/2012:
"While most might appreciate Ms Lloyds suggestions on how to help improve
school cafeterias, the opening derogatory comments about the folks who
work hard everyday to serve children is unecessary and unprofessional. If
she truly wants to revolutionize school meals - a positive approach is
more likely to win over those who actually get the job done than childish
comments that serve no purpose.
"
09/10/2010:
"I would hope all Salisbury-Rowan County School systems could recieve this
letter and have healthy school lunches for all children!"
02/16/2010:
"Why not just your child with a bag lunch from home?"
02/4/2010:
"Ok what shcool districts are you two 'lunch ladies' from? I can tell you
my district is the freezer queen. Other than the fresh fruit they offer
(which I tell my child - avoid as I know they don't wash it, it is handled
by the kids who haven't washed their hands) it all comes prepared to the
school. They only reheat foods. There is no whole foods or edible foods
getting to the kids. The trash receptacles get fed very well. Most of the
time I send lunch with mine. The staff actually made fun of him and I for
my latest - sending spinach salad. I usually make for two because his
friends always want to try! I don't feed my kid tv dinners at home and I
don't understand why that is what schools across the nation are doing.
None of the staff eat the lunchroom food. One of our high schools revolted
and the students didn't purchase anything from the cafeteria for 2 days.
Administration made promises they never fulfilled and the kids that led
the revolt were appropriately punished ove!
r the year. Though the district claims no student was lol. Our lunchrooms
are right on par with the classrooms."
02/4/2010:
"Folks, do your own research: the organization cited in this article, The
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, is a radical animal-rights
group NOT recognized by the AMA or other mainstream medical groups.
They are dangerous because they are driven by a hidden agenda that is far
outside the realm of ordinary people.
Don't take my word for it - look it up!
Shame on you, GreatSchools!"
09/22/2009:
"I SUBBED THIS WEEK AND LAST WEEK THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT THHE NUTRITIONAL
DEPT THROW AWY IS A SHAME
THEY POPORTION AND MEASURE WHAT THEY GIVE TO STUDENTS YET THEY THROW
AWAY THEY CHARGED FRO DOUBLE PORTIONS AND NEVER OFFER SECONDS COME ON
ALL OF THE FOOD WE SEND OUT OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
EAT SOME OF THEM THIS MAYBE IS THEIR ONLY MEALS
THIS IS MY COMMENTS JUST OBSERVING THE LAST FEW WEEKS I COULD IMAGE WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN I AM NOT HERE THANKS FOR LISTENING WE SHOULD HAVE FREE MEALS
FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND MAKE THE STAFF IS NOT CONTOLLING THE PORTIONS
"
09/10/2009:
"This is wonderful. I am glad to see that people are trying to get our
children eating better. My boys were in school 18 years ago. But I also
had a gift from GOD, a little boy after 16 years who will be starting
school this friday. I don't know the doos and don't about snacks for
preschool. Thank you for this input. Happy Holly"
09/10/2009:
"Not sure how long it has been since you stepped into a K-8 cafeteria but
must have been many years ago. Would welcome a visit from you anytime at
any of our 11 cafeterias where we feed over 7,000 healthy meals day after
day. Two six foot salad bars stuffed with local fresh fruits and veggies
along with whole grain pasta salads are just a few of the options for all
students K-8 to choose from. FF milk has been offered and preferred by
our students the last 10 years in white and chocolate flavor. All bakery
items (including sliced bread, hot dog buns and hamburger buns) are whole
grain along with any breading used on food items. Breakfast items such as
french toast, pancakes and waffle sticks are all whole grain and are
served with a slight sprinkling of powdered sugar but not syrup. Only
100% full strength juices are offered. As to the fryers you mention I am
sure you are mistaken as in the 15 years I have been working with our
district I have yet to see a fryer of any ty!
pe in any kitchen.
If you indeed have observed the scene you described in your story of the
industrial fryer and the lunch lady with 50 lb. bag of sloppy joe mix I
would suggest that it is the exception rather than the rule in schools
today and should be addressed
Let's see, if I remember right today students were offered fresh kiwi,
fresh strawberries, fresh local watermelon, fresh local cantaloupe, fresh
local honeydew, fresh oranges, fresh apples, fresh red grapes, water
packed diced peaches, water packed diced pears. And that was on one of the
two salad bars. The veggie bar had fresh broccoli, fresh cherry tomato,
fresh romaine salad mix, fresh carrots sticks,fresh celery sticks, fresh
cucumbers, two whole grain pasta salads, red kidney beans, and low fat
cottage cheese. If available we use organic produce on the salad bars.
An interesting result of offering the salad bars has been the
participation of a group students who do not always eat balanced meals. We
have found our 6-8 grade female students to be some of our best customers
at the salad bars.
One of our goals has always been to teach and offer students the
opportunity to develop life long eating habits that are healthy and
nutritious by offering only healthy options for them to choose from every
day for every meal.
Thanks for the opportunity to give my two cents worth"
09/8/2009:
"I am completely offended by the remarks made by the author of this
article, Carol LLoyd. Oviously Carol has not done all of her homework on
school lunches and the requirements made on school cafeterias by the USDA!
Schools are mandated by the USDA to comply with the nutrition requirements
that are set for the age group of children that the cafeteria is serving.
Menus are checked regularly by the USDA to make sure that schools are
abiding by these rules. Our school does not even own a deep fryer. Every
'french fry' or 'tator tot' is Baked. Schools are already in touch with
nearby farms to provide foods to the schools - this is called the
'commodity program' - also a USDA program. A federal law prohibits
schools from serving soda pop. And certainly, not every 'lunch lady' is
so scary and carrying a 50 lb bag of sloppy joe's over her shoulder...it's
ideals like this that give the cafeteria a bad name and it would be nice
to be appreciated. Lunch is a huge part of a stu!
dents day at school. I can't tell you the number of times we are
contacted by teachers, administrators, etc. to provide them with
something, change the menu to suit their school function needs, etc. It's
articles like these that make it so that the cafeteria staff is looked
down upon, not only by the 'educated' staff, but by the students. Maybe
Carol should take a day or two to work in a school cafeteria and see what
it's really all about - not that she would even touch on what all she
would need to know to do the job properly."
