How do you find out exactly what your kid's school lunch is and go about suggesting changes?

[peaceful_mama]

I know they have a budget to stick to and I live in an area where they can't really rely on a school garden because the growing season is not really at all during the school year. (at least if you go by when the Farmer's Market is open--they would get 2 weeks in May, probably one in August and the months of September and October)

But...simple stuff with what is currently on the menu.

For example, I would like to know if the canned fruit they serve is packed in syrup, juice, or possibly water. (do they do this? I only noticed it once on a Splenda container of my mom's)

Why they don't serve whole wheat bread options?

And, could they possibly change the menu planning just a little to lower the sugar content? Like today the lunch menu included both canned pears and a cupcake. (a pre-packaged nasty thing, I know for a fact, but I deal with it as they *maybe* have that once a month and I don't buy them at home.)

A snack they have probably about once a month is a cinnamon roll with diced canned peaches.

to me, especailly if this stuff is canned in syrup that is a ton of sugar.

I know the requirement is a vegetable and a fruit (or two of either one)...or in the case of the snack, two food groups.

I'm not asking for foods they don't already have or anything like that...just why can't they plan to serve the fresh oranges or apples with these sweet items and save the (probably syrupy) canned fruit for a day when they are not eating another "dessert" item?

[sewchris2642]

Start with the school office. They might direct you to the person in charge of breakfast/lunch at your school. From there, go to the district website. There should be a nutrition department. If you can't find it on the website, call the district office and ask. In all probability though, you will have an uphill battle to get better nutritional choices. It really is a matter of economics. Schools can't afford it and be able to offer it at prices that most families can afford. For example, at my son's elementary school, he could eat lunch for under $2.00 a day (less if I bought 5+ meals in advance). At his charter school, lunch is $5.00 a day and must be bought in 5 days at a time in advance online. The difference in price is quality of ingredients. The charter school contracts with a company (http://www.revfoods.com/) that follows Whole Foods quidelines. The choices and great and I know that Dylan would love to have them for lunch. Unfortunately, I can't afford for him to order them. So he will have to be content with his sack lunch from home.

[KatWrangler]

We get a monthly calendar which shows what is being offered. We also get surveys from time to time asking for input. I think the calendar even has a phone number you can call if you have any questions.

Aramark is the food provider for my sons school.

[peaceful_mama]

We get surveys periodically too. I just got my eyes opened a little further on nutrition reading another book...I had never really looked at the sugar content of the lunches. the last survey I did suggest whole grains--especially when I saw Sara Lee white dinner rolls being served one day. If they can get those, why can't they get SL whole wheat sliced bread? If SL has some sort of deal with the food service people...why don't they provide whole grains? it also irks me that by federal guidelines, Head Start is supposed to be providing like 60% of a kid's daily nutrition (it's some obnoxious number it's more than half) with the lunch and snack they provide every day.
Another "federal" thing--the pyramid--says "half daily grains should be whole"

yet the only whole grain things i have *EVER* seen on my kid's menu are once or twice I have seen a "whole wheat cookie" and a few times a month they have "whole wheat crackers" for snack. Other than that the buns on the sandwiches are white and they have these white bread rolls.