School Lunch Programs -- Then And Now

After all these years, I still have fond, vivid memories of my grammar school lunch program. The very use of the term "grammar school" tells you that was a very long time ago.

But even now, I can almost taste some of those lunches--food that was filling and delicious--and nutritious.

The soup and sandwich combos--chicken noodle soup with an egg salad sandwich, or cream of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich--were favorites. As was the once-a-week spaghetti with meat sauce and salad.

There was always an apple, orange, or banana on the tray, along with a sliver of cake or pie, or perhaps a cookie. The beverage was a glass of milk.

Over time, the type of school lunch I enjoyed fell victim to the fast food craze. A filling lunch became more fattening. Lunch was just as delicious, but not always as nutritious. Often it was a soda instead of milk.

There were guidelines that were intended to assure proper nutrition, but the guidelines were abused. One flagrant example of cheating on nutrition got a lot of attention last year.

A slice of pizza was being listed as a vegetable--this phony claim because the pizza was topped with a little tomato sauce--two tablespoons worth.

Now, however, the Department of Agriculture has come up with better-regulated menus that provide adequate nutrition.

As of next July 1, school lunch programs nationwide must offer fruits and vegetables with all meals. There are limitations on the amount of sodium, saturated fat, and trans fats in the food that is served. Milk is back on the tray--the lowfat variety.

The new USDA approach to school lunch programs is aimed at making the food served to school children both appealing and healthy. With more than 17 million American children currently classified as obese, the new guidelines are an example of an especially beneficial form of regulation.