Stupid USDA Rules--Any advice?

[Shirelle]

At my son's school they serve breakfast, lunch, and snack to all the kids. They are on the USDA's food program, so they are served what the USDA has deemed is "healthy". We're transitioning to a more traditional foods type of diet...we eat a lot of organics, no processed meats or really any processed foods. I just don't see the need to feed my kids "kid food", when they are perfectly happy with organic fruit and kefir.

Ethan has a soy allergy, so they are scrambling to come up with substitutions for all the processed crap they serve the kids. They asked me for a list of food that he eats at home....umm, yeah...I really see the USDA making homemade sourdough bread for his sandwiches

We are NOT ALLOWED to bring in outside food, and they are REQUIRED to serve a protein source. Yesterday they had fruit and little smokie sausages for breakfast....at lunch they had enchiladas, but they had soy in them, so Ethan had little smokie sausages AGAIN. As well as plenty of sugary juice. Yuck, YUCK, YUCK!!!! I asked them if they could have just given him the fruit for breakfast, but NOPE, they have to offer him a "protein".

I don't know if I should throw a fit about this, or what. I am totally grossed out by what they feed the kids.

[tboroson]

I'd be challenging the legality of them not allowing you to bring in outside food. What if your family were Hindu, and your child couldn't eat the "protein" they provide? If your family were Jewish - it certainly doesn't sound like they keep a kosher cafeteria kitchen. No, their requiring you to take their food is a clear infringement on your rights, particularly your right to keep your son safe.

[Plummeting]

Is it a private school affiliated with some institution of religion? If not, then I agree with Tboroson. A public school can't tell you your son has to eat the foods they serve. There are about a million ways that's not okay. (Religion, the obvious allergy issue you're dealing with, vegetarianism, etc.) I absolutely would not allow them to feed my child that crap. I mean, maybe a little crap once a week would be alright, but every day? And twice a day? No way.

[kriskriskris]

WOW the USDA considers little smokie sausages healthy? Thats kinda sad and gross... I dont even let my 2 year old eat any kind of sausage for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Why do they have to have a meat protien, what if he was a vegan???? As I mentioned before I have a 2 year old and she will be starting mothers day out next week and will be required to take her lunch (I cant tell you how happy I was about that!)(vs. having to eat what they prepare) Anyway why can't your son take his lunch to school? Is that allowed and if not why?
While my family and I probably eat alot more processed food then you and your family I try to stay away from things that have alot of additives and we eat alot of organic foods from speghetti sauce and pasta to fruits and veggies. I know I am kinda getting of the subject of what you originally posted but I was happy to see someone else who watches what her family puts in their mouth! I haven't had alot of support from my family, especially my husbands, they think that I am being silly because I try to feed my little one as much organic foods as we can. Or they think that I think we are better then they are because I buy organic. Simply not the case!! Just trying to do the best for my family!
Anyway sorry to ramble but good luck on "your mission" and please keep us updated about what happens with your situation.
Stay Strong in what You believe!!!!!


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[Ruthla]

Who on earth is "requiring" a protein source at all meals?

Why won't they let you send him food?

If you have to work within their stupid rules, I'd suggest asking them to boil eggs for him (assuming he's not allergic to eggs) and be offered hard boiled eggs when the protein source isn't OK for him.

[LeahBoo]

Yeah, the USDA food program sucks. My sister used it for a while for her daycare and it was awful. With lunch and dinner you have to serve a protein source, a grain source, a fruit and a vegetable (or two fruits or two vegetables), and milk. Not sure about breakfast. My sister is a vegetarian. She got around serving meat by serving beans, cheese, and soy products. Added lentils instead of hamburger to spaghetti, etc. She still had to serve milk though. She managed to give them much healthier food than is "required" by the food program. but they still dictated everything. If your kid can't eat something, you need a doctors note. It's crazy. She gave it up after just a couple months.

But i can see how the food program is a good thing at times. Most kids eat crap at home. My friends kids eat pizza, top ramen, and ravioli (canned, of course), daily. Her son won't touch vegetables, he never has eaten them, he's 14.

[liawbh]

Yep. The university childcare my oldest went to wouldn't allow anyone to send any food. I tried to challenge them on it, due to my son's dairy sensitivities, and they said they'd love to, but if they don't follow the USDA program for every child, they lose funding for all food.

[Shirelle]

I'd suggest asking them to boil eggs for him (assuming he's not allergic to eggs) and be offered hard boiled eggs when the protein source isn't OK for him.

Egg is his other food allergy : Very frustrating!

The only thing they worked with me on was they aren't giving him pasteurized cow's milk.....at home we drink raw milk, and obviously they won't give him that We don't have a documented milk allergy like we do for egg and soy, but I told them that cow's milk upsets his stomach, so they're giving him rice milk.

I'm still torn. I don't want them to lose funding just because of me. You're right, some kids never get fresh fruit or veggies, and they do serve them. I know I never ate any vegetables that weren't from a can, when I was growing up. I'm definitely going to be sending him to school with a full tummy, and hope that he only picks at what they give him.

[EBG]

Wow,
is this a public school?
One more reason for me to homeschool...
...we're also following a traditional way of eating (NT)

Digestive enzymes would decrease reactions from processed foods and break down problem proteins and carbs, but then again there's the problem of does it count as a drug, he needs a doctor's note and who gives it to him, the nurse? Before every meal?

[memory maker]

yes the food program sucks. I am on it for my daycare. the food program lady came by one day to visit and was talking about how the program doesnt "pay to have all this organic stuff that people are wanting now" and how she didnt understand the need for it. : I try and get as much organic for my own kids and the daycare kids get some (because honestly their families could care less what they eat as long as they are eating

[caedmyn]

Would they let you get some sort of doctor's note saying that because of his food allergies he needs to be allowed to bring food from home?

[newcastlemama]

Originally Posted by tboroson

I'd be challenging the legality of them not allowing you to bring in outside food. What if your family were Hindu, and your child couldn't eat the "protein" they provide? If your family were Jewish - it certainly doesn't sound like they keep a kosher cafeteria kitchen. No, their requiring you to take their food is a clear infringement on your rights, particularly your right to keep your son safe.

I agree...this does seems like an infrigement on basic rights--eating foods that make you well!!! I agree with the homeschooling mom--another reason to do so. I would pull him out of school, if at all possible, because I really hate being controlled (especially by the government!)...

Blessings,
Jennifer

[Shirelle]

I know all about the benefits of homeschooling. I had EVERY intention of being a homeschooling Mom, and I still might. With my son's autism diagnosis, I had to re-evaluate my capabilities, and whether or not a structured school might be better for him. I'm a very laid back and flexible person, and he's very rigid. My plan for homeschooling was going to be to do a couple of hours (at most) of structured schooling a day, and unschooling the rest of the time. I wanted my kids to have lots of time to be creative, play, and be kids. Well, if I give him time to "be creative" he self-stims for hours on end--turning lights on/off, playing with the same toys in a repetetive fashion. I have to CONSTANTLY keep him occupied and focused, and it's exhausting.

We found a wonderful placement for him, with this school. He's getting to go to school with typically-functioning children. He and one other little girl, have a special needs teacher just for them, and she's helping to integrate them into the classroom of typically developing peers.

I don't worry about "socialization" like some homeschooling naysers talk about, but this school could provide one thing that I couldn't--and that was typically developing peers who he will see everyday, and be able to develop a relationship with. No matter how I tried, I could not MAKE other kids want to play with my child.

I'm taking it one week/month/year at a time, and I'm truly doing the best I can for him as far as his education goes.

[twins10705]

Especially with your son having the autism diagnosis, it is important that he be eating well! There are waivers for everything, so I would look into that.

[newcastlemama]

Originally Posted by Shirelle

I'm taking it one week/month/year at a time, and I'm truly doing the best I can for him as far as his education goes.

That's all we can do...

To clarify...I was thinking of what I would do with my family in the same school lunch situation. Our lives are all so different.

I think the next step is what the other mom's have talked about...getting a dr. in on this. Maybe the dr. could say that your son needs specifically tailored meals for his body to excel and that you must prepare them for him...this situation is so frustrtaing! s
Jennifer

[gardenmommy]

Originally Posted by Shirelle

I know all about the benefits of homeschooling. I had EVERY intention of being a homeschooling Mom, and I still might. With my son's autism diagnosis, I had to re-evaluate my capabilities, and whether or not a structured school might be better for him. I'm a very laid back and flexible person, and he's very rigid. My plan for homeschooling was going to be to do a couple of hours (at most) of structured schooling a day, and unschooling the rest of the time. I wanted my kids to have lots of time to be creative, play, and be kids. Well, if I give him time to "be creative" he self-stims for hours on end--turning lights on/off, playing with the same toys in a repetetive fashion. I have to CONSTANTLY keep him occupied and focused, and it's exhausting.

We found a wonderful placement for him, with this school. He's getting to go to school with typically-functioning children. He and one other little girl, have a special needs teacher just for them, and she's helping to integrate them into the classroom of typically developing peers.

I don't worry about "socialization" like some homeschooling naysers talk about, but this school could provide one thing that I couldn't--and that was typically developing peers who he will see everyday, and be able to develop a relationship with. No matter how I tried, I could not MAKE other kids want to play with my child.

I'm taking it one week/month/year at a time, and I'm truly doing the best I can for him as far as his education goes.

You are doing what you feel is the BEST for your child. One cannot do more than this. I am a homeschooling mom, I feel strongly about hs'ing, but it isn't the BEST option for every family, every child. I don't think you should feel badly for making the choice to not hs; I think you should be applauded for examining your options, then making the best choice available for your son.

In such a situation, where the school is so unsupportive of you bringing in your own food, the best option may be to get a doctor's note or somesuch to state that your child is allergic/sensitive/reactive/whatever to certain foods, and that he must be on a specific diet. I don't know what your other options are. If the school loses its funding for its lunch program if other food comes into the school, they aren't likely to be flexible on this issue. There will probably have to be some overwhelming reason for them to allow your son to bring his own lunch. What do they do with children who have life-threatening food allergies (and I know in the DFW area those are pretty common!)?

I just want to encourage you to continue to advocate for your son's health. You are doing a hard job, don't give up! Keep your chin up, and let us know how it all turns out.

[JaneS]

That is absolutely revolting! Nitrate filled sausages?!

I would absolutely throw a fit and get a doctor's note to bring in own food.

This scares me, I've heard of it before.. no outside food in public schools. Even if my child didn't have digestive problems, I wouldn't want him eating a school lunch of processed foods everyday.

[blessedwithboys]

ok, so this is a public school? do you have a 504?

my friend was able to get help from her ped to write in a special diet for her ds. the school, USDA be damned, is required to follow the special diet plan. maybe this would apply to you?