Here's the link to the lunch menu for October.  I think it's "pretty good" in that they offer fruit and veggies at all meals, use whole wheat bread, and are not overly fried.  There've been some good changes in the past couple of years - mostly due, I think, to Mayor Bloomberg's focus on health overall.  The problem is that the kids don't eat the fruit for the most part, so it's probably more wasted than anything else.

is not in public school yet, but she will be next year.  I'm afraid to click on any of this.

where my son is. They look to be pretty healthful mixes of things. He's in preschool at a daycare center, and they get catered food from a program that supplies to schools and centers, so it's all kid-focused.

My current issue with them (and the school agrees) is that they have suddenly stopped providing allergen information. Period.

I find it inexcusable, but what can I do? I know the school is complaining...

I suspect it's an anti-litigation strategy. But given how many kids have allergies to dairy, eggs, and other common ingredients.... sigh.

Here's our lunch menu.  As far as I can see, it's "kiddie food" heaven.  My son packs his lunch.  I haven't made a stink about the school lunches, because I honestly think it would fall on deaf ears.  We aren't a wealthy school district, which is in rural suburbia.  I think many of the parents probably have not so great diets around here too and probably think it's fine that the school offers corn dogs and chicken nuggets.  I'm open to any suggestions you might have.  

for elementary students this week.

Some things on here look ok, others not so ok (pancake sausage on a stick? WTF?  That is what Jon Stewart has been making fun of in recent months).  Wrapped cheese dog?  Etc.

October Lunch Menu for our district's elementary schools.

for Jess's daycare. But they have their own kitchen and cook, and everything is cooked from scratch. Egg, dairy and nut free. Jess's meal on Tuesday was: spaghetti bolognese with fresh fruit slices for dessert. Afternoon snack ("afternoon tea", for the Aussies) was homemade Turkish bread with homemade dips. They get the kids involvd in the cooking where possible; I think the 4 year olds helped make the bread, and Jess's class "helped" make the dips. (I asked what that means, and the teacher said they get the kids to dump the beans into the food processor, or stir it all together, things like that).

Last week's lunch was Moroccan beef and vegetables over couscous and chocolate cake for dessert, with dried fruit for afternoon tea. In the past, they've done baked chicken, moussaka, roasted vegetable sandwiches, etc., etc., etc. I keep wanting to finagle a lunch invite!

The center isn't unique; the Victorian (state) government has made healthy eating habits a priority for children, so there's money out there in daycare centers to subsidize/promote fresh food preparation, using organic veg where possible. I love it. Unfortunately, it doesn't carry over totally into public schools. I have to see what the deal is with the primary school in the neighborhood. I'd definitely volunteer in the "tuck shop" if it meant preparing more healthy food. I have a feeling it won't be a problem, though; I did notice that there's an herb garden on the school grounds, which seems to be saying something.

Thanks for the great topic Expat Chef!

Our menus look great on paper. For example "California burger, fresh fixin's, oven fries." But there are two problems. First, every day has an alternate entree. On California Burger Day, the alternate is fish sticks. Guess what the kids choose? Also, the kids pick whichever side items they like from the lunch line, so how many of them are eating those fresh fixin's?

I was appalled when I ate with my DD last year. (My kids bring lunch.) The main menu was lasagna and carrot sticks. The alternate was YOGURT. (How that qualifies as an entree, I'll never know.) Every hot lunch kid that sat at our table had the same lunch: a 6 oz. Danimals yogurt (hello HFCS!), a plastic-wrapped cheese slice, and milk. There wasn't a carrot stick to be seen. I kid you not. That was lunch.

I know there are food waste issues to think about, but it seems to me that kids will eat better if the fruit and veg are already on the plate and not a matter of choice.

As for affluent schools vs. others, I looked up the menu at an expensive private school nearby. It was FAR worse than our public school. "Cheeseburger, fries, ice cream; Mac'n'cheese, corn dogs, pudding." The real kicker was the price: $4 a day! Unbelievable!

Here is ours:

Nightmare!!

We send lunch.

It's so funny b/c he is a foster kid & qualifies for this lunch for free.  But forget it.  We had this huge row (sort of huge) with the lunch lady about milk.  She wouldn't give him milk b/c he wasn't signed up for the hot lunch.  And again, it would be free b/c of his foster care status.

Whatever - we put $20 on the account.

Cheers.