What Was the Worst (or Best) School Lunch You or Your Student Has Ever Had?
What's tasty — or not — in the school cafeteria? What does your student like to bring to lunch? What was your most memorable school lunch?
School lunches sure ain't what they used to be. In fact, it would seem what's on the menu is a whole lot better than it used to be.
These days, students at Ridge High School, and even at William Annin Middle School, have multiple choices for lunch. My high school freshman gives especially high ratings to the Asian chicken wrap. Did you ever have anything like that in your school cafeteria?
Of course, such variety (and apparently improved quality) comes at a cost. Most days, if he buys lunch, (although he usually brown-bags it) he insists on at least $5 to fund a selection from the high school eatery. Of course, he'd prefer more.
NOTE HERE: The Bernards Township school system's lunch program is self-supporting. The cost goes up as the variety (and quantity) increases in the schools for older students.
Generally, we settle for a sandwich, accompanied by some kind of healthy side snack. What does your student bring to school? Or like in the school cafeteria? Were they pleased to get to the upper grades and have more of a choice for lunch?
Of course, things weren't always so good. When my older son was attending the lower elementary grades on Long Island, what showed up on the school lunch tray was sometimes a gamble — literally. For the last few days at the end of each school year, the school menu offered "cook's surprise" — I suppose whatever was left over in the lunchroom before summer.
Personally, I wouldn't dream of sending my son off with lunch money to order "cook's surprise" in a New York elementary school. However, he had at least one friend who decided to go for it.
For the record, one of the "cook's surprise" meals was "some kind of meat balls" with an unidentified sauce (not red.) According to Alex, the lunch was actually pretty good. We still decided to pass.
As for myself, I used to enjoy the vegetable beef soup served for lunch in a certain Morris County middle school. That was, until the day when the cooks apparently were short on beef and decided to substitute...Spam. (There was more in the bottom of the bowl, but I'm already pushing the boundaries of taste here.)
After that, my favorite treat became those prepackaged ice cream cones with a little bit of chocolate in the bottom of the cone. A much safer choice!
And, for some reason, every kid seems to love pizza, even in the school cafeteria!
So — what does your child like to order or bring to school for lunch? Can you help us out here with any suggestions to vary brown-bag (or lunchbox) selections?
Please add your comments at the bottom of the story. And for those who would like to join me, I'll be at the Starbucks at Riverwalk at 12:30 p.m. Bon appetit!
Colleen Epple Pine
12:41 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Regarding lunches, our daughter really finds the Ridge lunch a treat. She brown-bags 4 days a week and looks very forward to the one day a week chance to stand in line and catch up with friends and enjoys the specials. A big seller is a bagel, certain fruits and the favorite cookie of the day. But having said that, we also find it important to track the meals. If you didn't already know, you can review what your child is ordering on-line. This way, if s/he is picking up 5 bagels a week or tons of fries each week, you might know why the pounds are packing on...we monitor the account closely. All in all, great selections!
Colleen Epple Pine
12:44 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
One final note...I heard of a snack that was passed around on April Fool's Day....a toothpaste filled Oreo cookie. Now, I know that some people might find it offensive and we all worry about that one kid who might be allergic to flouride, etc....but all in all....I got a laugh out of knowing our kids still play the same fun and games we did when we grew up! My daughter actually got one of those Oreo cookies and thought it was a great joke...it made a very nasty snack though! lol
Linda Sadlouskos
12:45 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I also allow one "treat" day for buying each week — mostly because of cost, but also because I know that snacks are a high priority. I didn't know you could track what meals your child is ordering online!! Details?
Joa Fencel
12:52 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
MY worst lunch in highschool (circa 1980) was a chocolate eclaire and an orange drink...every day! Nobody cared !
Rick Morley
12:59 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I'm sitting here at the Starbucks with Linda...and we got talking about the length of the lunch period. My daughter is at Oak Street School and the lunch period is incredibly short! When my wife and I go in for "family dining" with our daughter we barely get our lunch out and ask how her day is going - and it's over! I too grew up with short lunch periods, and to this day I inhale my food. I'm not sure it teaches good eating habits, or even encourages people to taste their food...though maybe not tasting the food isn't always a bad idea...
LCB@home
10:25 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011
So true, the lunch periods are short....however, wait until they get to William Annin!! They only have lunch three full periods a week, and two half periods due to overcrowding! Also, there is no recess. Many kids take lunch in, and bring it right back home, having no time to eat! They do have gym every day, except for 6 weeks when they are in "Health"!! Go figure.
We need to back up our healthy messages with a full lunch period, daily opportunity to exercise, and some wellness programs for kids.
Linda Sadlouskos
1:04 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
So true! I'm not sure it's healthy for digestion, especially for the younger children. And I think many of them don't even have time to finish their lunch. Is it possible to at least schedule another 5 or 10 minutes?
Andi Williams
3:14 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Well, I grew up in the UK where most items in the school lunches could be bounced off the floor. There was nothing redeeming about any one item - it was always one lunch (no choice), comprised of soggy mashed potatoes, mushy peas and anemic chicken or some unidentifiable chewy meat. We were also served warm milk in cartons that had been sitting out in the sun (yes, believe it or not, the sun does occasionally shine in England) and had therefore curdled. I will NEVER forget that smell in the canteen. I should get an air freshener with 'that' smell in my refrigerator and it would help me shed some pounds. Ughh.
TJ
7:52 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2011
very descriptive. made my stomach curl just thinking of it. I've been in the elementary cafeterias here -- i would rather skip a meal than eat many of the dishes served. some have that 'bounce factor' you mentioned.
Linda Sadlouskos
3:54 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thanks Andi - You make it sound like our students have nothing to complain about! Didn't your schools even have a good dessert or two? How about other parents from our international community — what kind of school lunches did you grow up with?
Rick Morley
5:32 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Andi, my favorite memory of the UK school canteen (I taught in the UK for a year) was the prawn flavoured crisps - translation shrimp flavored potato chips! Blech.
Linda Sadlouskos
5:52 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Yum! So what do Bernards Twp. students enjoy in their own cafeteria? And what do parents find are their kids' favorite lunches brought from home?
Madhavi Saifee
7:14 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I love the tracking feature of My nutrikids program! I have 2 in elementary and every morning we look up online what is on the menu that day - then decide if lunch is to be brought or bought! There are some items that you would think the kids would like but they absolutely can't stand - for example Pizza! My 5th grader has described it such: "The pizza is cold and the sauce overpowers the entire pizza and it doesn't feel like it is cooked all the way because the cheese is not melted and it is cold!" Normally my kids love pizza! My first grader's opinion: "I don't like the penne pasta because the meat sauce is yucky" Keep in mind that my kids normally LOVE pizza and pasta! Either way I always send in healthy snacks (fruit, yogurt and/or crackers)
LCB@home
10:27 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011
In my opinion, the worst lunch in terms of nutrition in Bernards - white bread french toast with sausage patty and syrup. Is that food? It isn't a healthy lunch, for sure!!