The Importance of School Lunches

Hello again!  We hope everyone will join us this week for another “delicious episode” of Pathfinder Produce.  We’ll be open in Edmeston this Thursday, May 11, from 1 to 5 p.m., and our Morris Market will be at the UMC Hall on Friday, from noon to 5 p.m.  We look forward to seeing you!

We’re in the last few weeks before our Splash Path 5K and Fun Walk, which is set for Saturday, May 20.  Early registration ends on Wednesday, May 10, so cruise on over to splashpath.racewire.com to take advantage of our low pricing (fees increase slightly on Thursday).  We’re very pleased with the great community support and sponsors we’ve had signup this year, and we extend our heartiest thanks to all who make Splash Path such a fun and inclusive event. 

Despite the return of wet and chilly weather here at Pathfinder Village, our Dash to the Splash crew has kept on-pace with their training regimen.  Last evening, everyone went to Pathfinder Gym to train, and it was a lot of fun … we played music as we walked and jogged; a few of us decided to skip and gallop to change things up, and there was even an impromptu game of tag!  (Yup, I got tagged a few times … who says you can’t play games when you’re 50+)!!!!

For those of you training alongside the Dash Crew, here’s the regimen for Week 7:

5 min Brisk Walk 22 min Jog 3 min Walk

5 min BW 25 min J 3 min W

Repeat Day 2

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There was a poem that was very popular in the 1970s called Children Learn What They Live. This poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, which was displayed in many schools and pediatric offices, told of how the environment in which a child grows in will influence what kind of adult he will become.

There is also an adage that says, “You are what you eat.”

This brings me to the topic of school meals. The National School Lunch Act was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946. It provides low or zero cost meals in over 100,000 schools, and in 2012 served over 31 million children.

School breakfast and lunch programs are very important in giving access to nutritious food to children of all income levels. School meals are a great resource for busy parents who can save time by not packing lunches every day and still know their children are eating well.

These meals become critical for parents who struggle to make ends meet. According to Kids Count Data Center, in 2015, 23.3% of children and youth in Chenango County and 19.9% in Otsego County were living below the poverty level. For many of these children, school meals are their only access to nutritious food. Good nutrition is important, not only for physical health, but for brain development and mental acuity. Think about it: did you ever try to concentrate when you were extremely hungry?

In 2010, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed, raising the nutritional standards for school meals— meals featured less sugar and sodium, more whole grains, etc.  After all, our knowledge of food science has improved since 1946. This act met with some resistance, and some parents and others who plan and prepare the meals were skeptical that children would eat by the new standards.

I think that children are more adaptable and flexible than we give them credit for, and that the real challenge is to get Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers, who were raised on white bread and other convenience foods, to change their mindsets. Children are quite often taught, however unintentionally, to be picky eaters. So learn together, or get your children (or grandchildren) to teach you about different foods. You may find that whole grain bread or pasta is delicious, and that using other flavor enhancers than salt has delightful outcomes.

So this is where the poem at the beginning comes in. If adults can change their thinking for the sake of their children, then everybody benefits. Perhaps by extension, children who live with people who try new things will become adventurous eaters.  Children who live with people who try healthier foods will learn to eat well.

One other thought: In recent days the USDA has eased some of new school lunch regulations, but that doesn’t mean that school districts are obliged to follow suit. If it is important to you to maintain healthy meals in your schools, speak up. Attend school board meetings, study the school budget, encourage gardening projects, and write letters to your school district, legislators, and the USDA.  Grass roots change can make a difference, can help our kids eat better, and teach them to participate in their communities.

Until next time, teach your children well!

Martha (and Lori)