Introduction
After exploring different areas of research on school lunches our group decided that it would be interesting to see if farms and schools could come together to increase the nutritional value. After our interview with Duffield’s Farm we learned that the Bells Elementary School district has a program set up with them to educate their students about healthier food choices. Currently, the Board of Science came together from Bells with Duffield’s farms to discuss further ways the school could improve. The one main idea they had was to create their own school garden. There are wide open spaces that would be perfect for this around the perimeter of the school. Having the kids help grow their own garden would teach them about the life cycle of plants, fruits, and vegetable, while creating a healthy and nutritional atmosphere. Since the program has many affordances to offer we were interested in proposing this program to other school districts. Two local school districts that would benefit from this program are Pitman and Glassboro. Both of these schools are in such a close vicinity to Duffield’s so it would be manageable. Not all schools have the opportunity to have farms so nearby such as Berkeley Heights Township, which was one of the schools we interviewed. They do not have a farm close by, so the schools that do should take advantage of such great opportunity.
After conducting our interviews, we came to the conclusion that there were many things that could be improved in these districts. Each of us have analyzed the individual schools we interviewed and came up with a set of problems and solutions for each district. We then came together to create overall suggestions for parents and schools to better educate our students on nutrition, and to make the school lunches healthier. Below you can find the breakdown of each school.
After conducting our interviews, we came to the conclusion that there were many things that could be improved in these districts. Each of us have analyzed the individual schools we interviewed and came up with a set of problems and solutions for each district. We then came together to create overall suggestions for parents and schools to better educate our students on nutrition, and to make the school lunches healthier. Below you can find the breakdown of each school.
Glassboro Public School District
Problems :: School Lunches
After interviewing a lunch aid from one of the Glassboro Elementary Schools, We gained some alarming facts about their school lunches. It seems as though this district does not even realize that there are issues at hand, and neither do the parents. We believe that there are a lot of things that can be changed in this district in order to give the students a healthier outlook on food and living.
One of the main issues is that students are not eating the lunches. It was stated that on a particular day where Chinese was served, approximately 50 out of 60 students through away their lunch. The students do not get a choice of lunch, so even if they knew they were not going to eat it, they had to buy it anyway. One the drink sides of the menu, the students are only served white or chocolate milk. The only students who don’t receive this option are allergic, and therefore they receive water. Since there is as much sugar in a flavored milk as a can of soda, this hardly seems like a healthy choice.
During the interview, it was mentioned that all of the school lunches are made and served by a privatized company (possibly Nutri-Serve). This means that the district itself has nothing to do with the nutritional value of the food that they are serving. Anything that private company brings, is what the students eat. This may sound like an easier and more efficient option, and it would be if the lunches were of some nutritional value. Or better yet, if the company brought enough food to serve throughout all three lunches. It was stated that by the third lunch, it is more than likely that there will not be enough fruit to serve all of the students. All of the fresh bananas are gone. Instead, they will either serve a canned fruit, or none at all. Fruit is one of the only healthy things on their menu next to cheeseburgers and tator tots, and there isn’t enough to serve the students.
Solutions :: Simple and Complicated
Telling any school district what they should or shouldn’t do is a difficult task. Although, when it comes to the student’s health, we think it is worth the fight. This district has a large amount of students receiving reduced/free lunches due to low-income homes. In turn, the parents cannot afford to pack their students lunch every day. There are many simple solutions to deal with these issues that would not break the budget. On the other hand, it sounds like there are some major changes to be made when dealing with this privatized company.
One of the more simple solutions would be to ask the students what they like. Even though the students may not state the healthiest option, at least it will be something that they will eat. Since right now many of the students aren’t eating at all, this is a start. Something that the lunch aid proposed during our interview, was to make sure the students at least taste the food. That way they are making an attempt, and they might surprise themselves and actually it. If they still don’t, then that’s another issue. Lastly, make sure there is enough for all of the students! That is the simplest and most alarming issue, especially since it concerns the healthiest food on the menu.
A more difficult solution would be to give the students more options with the lunch menu. Although this is more expensive, it will get them eating and possibly offer healthier choices. Parents should be made aware of what is happening. If the parents knew that their students were throwing away their lunch, or that it was unhealthy and there was not enough for all students, they would not keep quiet. During the interview, it was stated that parents are the only ones that may have any authority to change what is happening. Lastly, we have created a memo proposting Duffield’s Farm Market to implement their educational program into the Glassboro Public School District.
After interviewing a lunch aid from one of the Glassboro Elementary Schools, We gained some alarming facts about their school lunches. It seems as though this district does not even realize that there are issues at hand, and neither do the parents. We believe that there are a lot of things that can be changed in this district in order to give the students a healthier outlook on food and living.
One of the main issues is that students are not eating the lunches. It was stated that on a particular day where Chinese was served, approximately 50 out of 60 students through away their lunch. The students do not get a choice of lunch, so even if they knew they were not going to eat it, they had to buy it anyway. One the drink sides of the menu, the students are only served white or chocolate milk. The only students who don’t receive this option are allergic, and therefore they receive water. Since there is as much sugar in a flavored milk as a can of soda, this hardly seems like a healthy choice.
During the interview, it was mentioned that all of the school lunches are made and served by a privatized company (possibly Nutri-Serve). This means that the district itself has nothing to do with the nutritional value of the food that they are serving. Anything that private company brings, is what the students eat. This may sound like an easier and more efficient option, and it would be if the lunches were of some nutritional value. Or better yet, if the company brought enough food to serve throughout all three lunches. It was stated that by the third lunch, it is more than likely that there will not be enough fruit to serve all of the students. All of the fresh bananas are gone. Instead, they will either serve a canned fruit, or none at all. Fruit is one of the only healthy things on their menu next to cheeseburgers and tator tots, and there isn’t enough to serve the students.
Solutions :: Simple and Complicated
Telling any school district what they should or shouldn’t do is a difficult task. Although, when it comes to the student’s health, we think it is worth the fight. This district has a large amount of students receiving reduced/free lunches due to low-income homes. In turn, the parents cannot afford to pack their students lunch every day. There are many simple solutions to deal with these issues that would not break the budget. On the other hand, it sounds like there are some major changes to be made when dealing with this privatized company.
One of the more simple solutions would be to ask the students what they like. Even though the students may not state the healthiest option, at least it will be something that they will eat. Since right now many of the students aren’t eating at all, this is a start. Something that the lunch aid proposed during our interview, was to make sure the students at least taste the food. That way they are making an attempt, and they might surprise themselves and actually it. If they still don’t, then that’s another issue. Lastly, make sure there is enough for all of the students! That is the simplest and most alarming issue, especially since it concerns the healthiest food on the menu.
A more difficult solution would be to give the students more options with the lunch menu. Although this is more expensive, it will get them eating and possibly offer healthier choices. Parents should be made aware of what is happening. If the parents knew that their students were throwing away their lunch, or that it was unhealthy and there was not enough for all students, they would not keep quiet. During the interview, it was stated that parents are the only ones that may have any authority to change what is happening. Lastly, we have created a memo proposting Duffield’s Farm Market to implement their educational program into the Glassboro Public School District.
Proposal - Memo
To: Glassboro Public School District
From: Tarrah Martinelli, Nicole Flesch, Chelsea Ernst, Lindsay Finkelstein
Date: 4/24/11
Re: Duffield’s Farm Market :: Proposal
It was brought to our attention that in the Glassboro Public School District, the students are not learning enough about healthy nutritional choices. The lunch items are not being supplemented properly, there is not enough fruit to serve all students, and the students are not eating. Also, the students are not receiving a choice in lunch items so they are not learning about different health choices they could be making.
We sense a need for change in this district. We realize that some of the changes we would propose would not be applicable, so we have come up with an alternative. Instead of changing school lunches, we believe that simply teaching the students about nutrition and healthier choices would be create substantial educational growth in the district.
Duffield’s Farm and Bells Elementary School have a program set up to educate their students about healthier food choices. Currently, the Board of Science came together from Bells with Duffield’s Farm to discuss further ways the school could improve. The one main idea they had was to create their own school garden. Having the kids help grow their own garden would teach them about the life cycle of plants, fruits, and vegetable, while creating a healthy and nutritional atmosphere.
Since the program has many affordances to offer, we feel that Glassboro Public School District would benefit from this as well. Glassboro Public Schools are at a close vicinity to Duffield’s, therefore it is manageable. Not all schools have the opportunity to work with farms nearby, so we believe that Glassboro should take advantage of it.
From: Tarrah Martinelli, Nicole Flesch, Chelsea Ernst, Lindsay Finkelstein
Date: 4/24/11
Re: Duffield’s Farm Market :: Proposal
It was brought to our attention that in the Glassboro Public School District, the students are not learning enough about healthy nutritional choices. The lunch items are not being supplemented properly, there is not enough fruit to serve all students, and the students are not eating. Also, the students are not receiving a choice in lunch items so they are not learning about different health choices they could be making.
We sense a need for change in this district. We realize that some of the changes we would propose would not be applicable, so we have come up with an alternative. Instead of changing school lunches, we believe that simply teaching the students about nutrition and healthier choices would be create substantial educational growth in the district.
Duffield’s Farm and Bells Elementary School have a program set up to educate their students about healthier food choices. Currently, the Board of Science came together from Bells with Duffield’s Farm to discuss further ways the school could improve. The one main idea they had was to create their own school garden. Having the kids help grow their own garden would teach them about the life cycle of plants, fruits, and vegetable, while creating a healthy and nutritional atmosphere.
Since the program has many affordances to offer, we feel that Glassboro Public School District would benefit from this as well. Glassboro Public Schools are at a close vicinity to Duffield’s, therefore it is manageable. Not all schools have the opportunity to work with farms nearby, so we believe that Glassboro should take advantage of it.
Berkeley Heights School District
Our group decided to look at each school district to determine what we felt were the pros and cons of the school lunch programs. Lindsay asked the students in one of the second grade classes there what they liked to eat in the cafeteria, what their favorite fruit or vegetable was, and what their favorite food was overall. As we saw in Jamie Oliver, the students gravitated towards junk food, even though this particuclar school offers salads everyday. The students had some very interesting answers. For their favorite food served in the cafeteria, nine people said pizza, five said cheesesteak, three said barbeque ribs, two said meatball subs, two said chicken nuggets, and one student each said burger and fish filet. For their favorite snack, twelve children said ice cream, six said cookies, two said chips, and two said rice crispies. For the favorite vegetable or fruit, eight people said apple, six said orange, and one student each said corn, pear, banana, peas, and fruit cup. Finally, for their overall favorite food, nine people said ribs, five said pizza, three said steak, two said chicken, two said pasta, and one student each said popcorn and funnel cake.
What is your favorite food served in the cafeteria?
Pizza 9
Cheesesteak 5
Barbeque Ribs 3
Meatball Subs 2
Chicken Nuggets 2
Burger 1
Fish Filet 1
What is your favorite vegetable or fruit?
Apple 8
Orange 6
Pear 1
Banana 1
Peas 1
Fruit Cup 1
Pizza 9
Cheesesteak 5
Barbeque Ribs 3
Meatball Subs 2
Chicken Nuggets 2
Burger 1
Fish Filet 1
What is your favorite vegetable or fruit?
Apple 8
Orange 6
Pear 1
Banana 1
Peas 1
Fruit Cup 1
What is your favorite snack?
Ice Cream 12
Cookies 6
Chips 2
Rice Crispies 2
What is your overall favorite food?
Ribs 9
Pizza 5
Steak 3
Pasta 2
Chicken Nuggets 1
Popcorn 1
Funnel Cake 1
Chicken 1
Ice Cream 12
Cookies 6
Chips 2
Rice Crispies 2
What is your overall favorite food?
Ribs 9
Pizza 5
Steak 3
Pasta 2
Chicken Nuggets 1
Popcorn 1
Funnel Cake 1
Chicken 1
Pros
-Salad is served everyday
-Milk selections are low fat 1%, slim, and low fat chocolate milk
-Soda is never offered
-All items are baked, not fried
-Alll bread is whole grain
-An "extra" is offered every week
-Lunch offers a vegetable, fruit, protein, and carbohydrate piece- more choices
-Have a district nutritionist despite intervention by company
-Certain amount of carbs and protein that have to go into the meal
-More affordable for parents
-Salad is served everyday
-Milk selections are low fat 1%, slim, and low fat chocolate milk
-Soda is never offered
-All items are baked, not fried
-Alll bread is whole grain
-An "extra" is offered every week
-Lunch offers a vegetable, fruit, protein, and carbohydrate piece- more choices
-Have a district nutritionist despite intervention by company
-Certain amount of carbs and protein that have to go into the meal
-More affordable for parents
Cons
-Juice is only offered with certain meals
-A company puts together the whole lunch menu so there is no direct say by the school usually
-Food is bought for the masses and is therefore usually canned or frozen initially
-Foods are still not at the highest nutrition level
-Sandwiches with cold cuts are rare as are real peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; only Snackables available
-No farms or local vendors around for the school to purchase supplies from
-Juice is only offered with certain meals
-A company puts together the whole lunch menu so there is no direct say by the school usually
-Food is bought for the masses and is therefore usually canned or frozen initially
-Foods are still not at the highest nutrition level
-Sandwiches with cold cuts are rare as are real peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; only Snackables available
-No farms or local vendors around for the school to purchase supplies from
Bells Elementary School
Bells Elementary School is a school that is very involved and determined to provide only the best for their students. They are always trying to find new ways to improve and benefit the children. After being involved with the school for the past semester and interviewing Duffield’s Farm, I found out that both places work together when possible. Although the school does not buy products from the farm, they work together to find out ways to help educate the students on nutrition and eating healthy. The current goal they are working on is to get a garden around the perimeter of the school. Growing a garden would not only teach the students about eating healthy, but also educate them on the life cycles of fruits and vegetables. In the past, Duffield’s provided Bells with pumpkins in the season of fall. The students got to see how a pumpkin grows and also got to decorate it. Also, Bell’s Elementary school has had a guest speaker come in from Duffield’s to educate students about life on the farm and what it is like.
The lunch at Bell’s elementary school is quite impressive. The students are provided with a variety of things to pick from. The choices are:
- Lunch of the Day
- Cold Platter
- Hot Dog
- Hoagie
- Salad
- Lunch from home
- Smucker’s PB &J
- Chicken Patty
Also, there are vegetarian options such as:
- Meatless Chef Salad
- Vegan Salad
- Fruit Salad
The drinks that are provided are milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, apple juice, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
Bell's Elementary School doesn't seem to have many problems. They offer many different healthy options as well as educating their students on eating healthy. Some of the problems that do exist are the following:
- Time: Growing a school garden is such a a wonderful idea, however, finding time to do it is not easy. There are only 6 hours in a school day and all 6 are packed with educating the students. There isn't much time for extra things to do. On the weekends would be a perfect opportunity but the building is locked. Even if the principle was to open the school, parents often don't have the time or schedule to bring their children in. One solution I came up with was that each class could be scheduled a specific job. One class could be in charge of picking weeds, one class can be in charge of digging, etc. If every class is assigned a specific task, I feel like it would get the job done and it will be done together as a school. I feel like the student's would take such great pride in something like that.
- Since Bell's offers a variety of lunch options, I think it is important to really emphasize the fact of eating healthy and teaching the student's about making the right food choices. The more the student's learn about their food and what they are eating, the more they will be aware of how to take care of their health. Also, the school can provide more drink options such as juice with reduced sugar. Most schools would rather serve chocolate milk and strawberry milk because they want the children to get some sort of calcium even though those drinks have more sugar than a can of soda. The school can offer a lighter version of chocolate and strawberry milk or maybe provide it with skim milk.
The lunch at Bell’s elementary school is quite impressive. The students are provided with a variety of things to pick from. The choices are:
- Lunch of the Day
- Cold Platter
- Hot Dog
- Hoagie
- Salad
- Lunch from home
- Smucker’s PB &J
- Chicken Patty
Also, there are vegetarian options such as:
- Meatless Chef Salad
- Vegan Salad
- Fruit Salad
The drinks that are provided are milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, apple juice, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
Bell's Elementary School doesn't seem to have many problems. They offer many different healthy options as well as educating their students on eating healthy. Some of the problems that do exist are the following:
- Time: Growing a school garden is such a a wonderful idea, however, finding time to do it is not easy. There are only 6 hours in a school day and all 6 are packed with educating the students. There isn't much time for extra things to do. On the weekends would be a perfect opportunity but the building is locked. Even if the principle was to open the school, parents often don't have the time or schedule to bring their children in. One solution I came up with was that each class could be scheduled a specific job. One class could be in charge of picking weeds, one class can be in charge of digging, etc. If every class is assigned a specific task, I feel like it would get the job done and it will be done together as a school. I feel like the student's would take such great pride in something like that.
- Since Bell's offers a variety of lunch options, I think it is important to really emphasize the fact of eating healthy and teaching the student's about making the right food choices. The more the student's learn about their food and what they are eating, the more they will be aware of how to take care of their health. Also, the school can provide more drink options such as juice with reduced sugar. Most schools would rather serve chocolate milk and strawberry milk because they want the children to get some sort of calcium even though those drinks have more sugar than a can of soda. The school can offer a lighter version of chocolate and strawberry milk or maybe provide it with skim milk.
Lanoka Harbor Elementary School
While interviewing the local cafeteria manager of Lanoka Harbor Elementary School in Lacey Township, NJ I was able to find out some of the affordances and constraints of how their cafeteria is managed and the food that is going out to the children. Since I have attended school there I can see how many changes have been made to the lunches that they serve. Every lunch that is served to a child must have certain nutritional requirements that are to be fulfilled. Another great thing that the school system has done is that they are trying to buy their produce and food from a large produce vendor that uses farms throughout the state. This allows for farms to be able to be incorporated in the local school systems and also allows for the school to have fresh vegetables to feed to the children on a daily basis. Below I will talk about one of the key problems that I saw within the school system and will offer a solution to what the school could possibly do to change this issue.
Problem:
One of the key problems that I realized while interviewing the manager at Lanoka Harbor was that she did not realize how much sugar is actually in chocolate and strawberry milk. While watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution we learned that chocolate and strawberry milk have just as high of sugar and calories as a can of soda. When I approached the manager about this she was extremely resistant to understanding that this was true and that the children aren’t getting the nutrition they should be from the flavored milk opposed to just have regular one percent of reduced fat milk.
Solution:
One thing that the school could do to improve their choices of healthier drinks is to offer the children only one percent or reduced fat milk. Even though the children may be resistant at first they will not have a choice when it is the only option available to them while eating lunch. This will introduce the children to making healthier choices in their daily lives and will hopefully get them into enjoying lower fat milk. The school can also offer children water or maybe a form of flavored water that offers the nutrients that are in milk as well. When children see drinks that are colored or fun looking they are more drawn giving them a try. If school start replacing their flavored milks with healthier drink options this will allow for the children to not only get the calcium and nutrition they need but also will get them on the right track of eating healthier.
Problem:
One of the key problems that I realized while interviewing the manager at Lanoka Harbor was that she did not realize how much sugar is actually in chocolate and strawberry milk. While watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution we learned that chocolate and strawberry milk have just as high of sugar and calories as a can of soda. When I approached the manager about this she was extremely resistant to understanding that this was true and that the children aren’t getting the nutrition they should be from the flavored milk opposed to just have regular one percent of reduced fat milk.
Solution:
One thing that the school could do to improve their choices of healthier drinks is to offer the children only one percent or reduced fat milk. Even though the children may be resistant at first they will not have a choice when it is the only option available to them while eating lunch. This will introduce the children to making healthier choices in their daily lives and will hopefully get them into enjoying lower fat milk. The school can also offer children water or maybe a form of flavored water that offers the nutrients that are in milk as well. When children see drinks that are colored or fun looking they are more drawn giving them a try. If school start replacing their flavored milks with healthier drink options this will allow for the children to not only get the calcium and nutrition they need but also will get them on the right track of eating healthier.
Overall Solutions and Suggestions
"Don't Eat Anything your Great-grandmother wouldn't Recognize as Food"
- Michael Pollen
The author of The Omnivore’s Dilema, Michael Pollen, says “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food”. I have been working at Vesuvios’s Pizzaria and Restaurant for almost five years now. It is owned by the DeSimone family, Sal, Luisa, and Sal JR. Before, I heard this quote, I was recently talking to my bosses mom, who we call “mama” Luisa DeSimone, who is like a grandmother to me. I swear anything this woman makes will take your tastebud to heaven. Everything she makes is so fresh and flavorful. We got to talking about her family history one day and what life was life when she was growing up in Italy. She said that eating was so different. Everything was so fresh. All the animals they ate came from a farm and were caught and killed right before they were going to eat them. They hunted for all their meat. Her family grew all their own fruits and vegetables. Her mother took care of the house and cooked dinner every night while her father did the labor work. One thing she said she will never forget what one woman said to her while she was on her way to America. The woman said Luisa had the prettiest pink color to her cheeks. Luisa nodded her head politely and said “Thank you”. The woman then told Luisa that she would lose that color in her cheeks now that she was going to live in America. Luisa said not too long after living in America she came to find that the woman was right and that the food here in America was so different than in Italy.
Suggestions from Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is an attempt to convert America into eating healther and improving our nutriton education. On his website, he has a Took Kit section. On this site, there are lists of ways that parents, teachers, and school districts can take simple steps to improve these issues. The Food Revolution TookKits can be found at:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/toolkits
BREAKING NEWS: Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
It was recently announced that the Food Revolution made a breakthrough in the LA school district, who is now uniting to ban flavored milk in their schools! This change is planned to begin next fall. Check out the great work:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/la-unified-gives-up-chocolate-milk-in-school-cafeterias.html
http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/toolkits
BREAKING NEWS: Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
It was recently announced that the Food Revolution made a breakthrough in the LA school district, who is now uniting to ban flavored milk in their schools! This change is planned to begin next fall. Check out the great work:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/la-unified-gives-up-chocolate-milk-in-school-cafeterias.html
Make a Healthy Lunch More Appealing
Individual Reflections
This project was a collaboration between myself, Chelsea Earnst, Nicole Flesch, and Lindsay Finkelstein.
