As a society, we are quick to put up a strong fight for education reform, a topic taken very seriously. However, what about the foods our children eat during the school day? School lunches seem to be the brunt of many jokes. This documentary's light-hearted, poking-fun take on this very serious topic is intended to reveal the consequences of our blasé attitude regarding school lunches. Despite the nutritional guidelines provided by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), our nation is failing to provide school lunches that prevent childhood obesity and other health problems; rather, school lunches often contribute to such issues. Record levels of childhood obesity and increased incidents of infectious diseases as a result of poorly prepared meals are giving rise to the question: who is responsible for making sure children are making healthy, safe food choices during school hours? In this regard, reports show that fast food chains impose more stringent standards for their meat compared with those set by the US Department of Agriculture for meat supplied to the NSLP. Moreover, the USDA sets the standards for school lunches which lack a caloric maximum or a standard nutritional value. This documentary focuses on the nutritional value of school lunches, its effect on children’s health and behavior, and the government laws and guidelines that contain gaps with regard to school nutrition.
Mystery Meat from Amanda Hinski on Vimeo.
Work Cited
Chen, Grace. "Why Fast Food Is "Healthier" than School Lunches: The Shocking USDA Truth." Public School Review 29 Dec. 2009. Web. <http://http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/182>.
Grace Chen, for Public School Review, presents startling information about school lunch nutrition standards in her article, “Why Fast Food is ‘Healthier’ Than School Lunches: The Shocking USDA Truth,” claiming that the standards governing the preparation and food content of school lunches are not as stringent as those of fast food chains. According to Chen, a significant percentage of meat in school lunches continually fail to meet standards imposed by the USDA for fast food chains. What’s more, children are at risk of ingesting harmful bacteria and pathogens. Chen claims fast-food restaurants check for bacteria between five and ten times more than some school lunch programs, and she also exposes how 27,000 school cafeterias escaped adequate inspections last year despite mandates by the Child Nutrition Act. Chen maintains that more needs to be done such as parental lobbying to officials as well as simply sending kids to school with packed lunches.
Eisler, Peter, Blake Morrison, and Anthony DeBarros. "Fast Food Standards for Meat Top Those for School Lunches." USA Today 08 Dec. 2009. Print.
In this USA Today article “Fast Food Standards for Meat Top Those for School Lunches”by Peter Eisler, Blake Morrison, and Anthony DeBarros, the quality and safety standards for the National School Lunch Program are examined. The authors reveal the disturbing reality of fast food chains serving better quality meat than that of the meat served in our public schools. Moreover, it is reported that the USDA has supplied schools with extraordinary amounts of meat from old birds known as “spent hens.” This article also reports the danger of food borne illnesses in relation to “spent hen” meat, and the need to raise the standards for federally purchased meat.
"Facts about Childhood Obesity." William J. Clinton Clinton Foundation. 26 Nov. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. <http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/alliance-for-a-healthier-generation/why-childhood-obesity-/facts-about-childhood-obesity>.
The William J. Clinton Foundation is an organization dedicated to identifying problems and discovering solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. The Clinton Foundation works to combat childhood obesity in several ways; one of which is changing the way our children eat, especially while in school. This site offers facts and statistics in regard to this increasing epidemic in our children.
Hubbard, Garrett. "Fast Food Safety Rules Trump Those for School Lunches." USA Today 9 Dec. 2009. Print.
The USA Today article “Fast Food Safety Rules Trump Those for School Lunches”by Garrett Hubbard compares the National School Lunch Programs food safety standards with those of Jack in the Box, which currently has the most stringent safety standards in the industry. According to this report, the school lunch limit allows for more than double the amount of indicator organisms, such as General E. coli and Total coliform; however, neither indicated a presence of Pathogens. While the results of the food safety standards between the NSLP and Jack in the Box are looked at more in depth, the author adds a side note which states large corporations, such as McDonalds and Costco, also maintain higher food safety standards than school lunches as they test their ground beef 5-10 times more often.
"Improving School Food." School Lunches. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://school-lunch.org/school.html>.
The website SchoolLunch.org focuses on improving school food around the world. It exposes the poor quality of food served in schools, and details its effect on childhood health and behavior. Additionally, this site addresses some of the harmful ingredients and additives that we serve our school children every day. Schoollunch.org also offers some solutions to providing healthy lunches, such as edible school yards.
Let's Move. Michelle Obama. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.letsmove.gov/learnthefacts.php>.
“Let’s Move” is a government campaign led by First Lady Michelle Obama to fight childhood obesity. This website states the facts about growing obesity rates in children and details possible causes, such as portion size and caloric intake. Furthermore, “Let’s Move” contends that one of the main reasons for childhood obesity is the unhealthy food that our kids are eating every day. According to the campaign initiative, we can overcome this challenge by providing our homes, communities, and schools with the tools they need.
Martin, Andrew. "Senate Passes Child Nutrition Act." New York Times July-Aug. 2010. Print.
The New York Times article “Senate Passes Child Nutrition Act” by Andrew Martin reports the long awaited approval of the Child Nutrition Act. Martin explains that this legislation requires new nutritional guidelines for school food as well as the possible elimination of vending machines; however, schools may still be allowed to sell pizza and other popular foods, although healthier ingredients may be required. Furthermore, the bill will help cover costs of healthier food and will not contribute to the deficit. According to Martin, this legislation is a step towards improving the health of the next generation.
Morrison, Blake, Peter Eisler, and Anthony DeBarros. "Old-hen Meat Fed to Pets and Schoolkids." USA Today 16 Dec. 2009. Print.
USA Today writers Peter Eisler, Blake Morrison, and Anthony DeBarros report in the article “Old-Hen Meat Fed to Pets and Schoolkids” the USDA’s frightening practice of supplying old-hen meat to the National School Lunch Program. The authors contend that “spent hens” are more likely to carry salmonella, and their meat is often tough and stringy. This article states that although the USDA maintains “spent hen” meat complies with the same safety standards as any other consumer bought chicken, they are now purchasing fewer “spent hens.”
Richardson, Jill. "Are School Lunches Setting Kids up for Obestiy and Poor Nutrition?" AlterNet. Birocreative, Feb.-Mar. 2010. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://www.alternet.org/food/145803/are_school_lunches_setting_kids_up_for_obesity_and_poor_nutrition>.
In the article “Are School Lunches Setting Kids Up for Obesity and Poor Nutrition?”author Jill Richardson questions Michelle Obama’s campaign “Let’s Move” by asking if the Obama administration’s efforts towards combating childhood obesity are on the right track. The author focuses on the National School Lunch Program and its reauthorization. According to this article, at least 10% of school children are eating a meal entirely governed by federal policies, and this meal contributes to half of their caloric intake for the day. Richardson states that the NSLP requires careful inspection and reform, and commends the Obama administration for striving to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables served in the NSLP.
Amanda Hinski – Rebecca Gillis- Alison Mancinelli
1. Are the lunches being served in schools contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic?
2. Meals served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are
required to meet national nutrition standards by federal law; however, foods known as "competitive foods"
are also served in schools and are NOT required to meet nutrition standards. Why is this? Should food
outside of school lunch programs be permitted to be offered as school lunch options?
3. Can improved school lunch programs increase scholastic achievement?
4. Should the USDA re-evaluate school meal regulations?
5. Can healthier school lunches curb behavioral problems?
6. Are school lunches setting kids up for poor nutrition?
7. Should we reconsider how we feed our children at school and make a greater investment towards the
current and future health of our children?
8. What are the benefits of school lunches?
9. What are the USDA school lunch guidelines?
10. What is the Child Nutrition Act and how does it affect school lunches?
