You Can Have My Twinkees...

Bulldog · Apr 11, 2011

...when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...nch-restrictions-041120110410,0,4567867.story

Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home
To encourage healthful eating, Chicago school doesn't allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren't fans of the policy

By Monica Eng and Joel Hood, Tribune reporters

3:42 a.m. CDT, April 11, 2011
Fernando Dominguez cut the figure of a young revolutionary leader during a recent lunch period at his elementary school.

"Who thinks the lunch is not good enough?" the seventh-grader shouted to his lunch mates in Spanish and English.

Dozens of hands flew in the air and fellow students shouted along: "We should bring our own lunch! We should bring our own lunch! We should bring our own lunch!"

Fernando waved his hand over the crowd and asked a visiting reporter: "Do you see the situation?"

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At his public school, Little Village Academy on Chicago's West Side, students are not allowed to pack lunches from home. Unless they have a medical excuse, they must eat the food served in the cafeteria.

Principal Elsa Carmona said her intention is to protect students from their own unhealthful food choices.

"Nutrition wise, it is better for the children to eat at the school," Carmona said. "It's about the nutrition and the excellent quality food that they are able to serve (in the lunchroom). It's milk versus a Coke. But with allergies and any medical issue, of course, we would make an exception."

Carmona said she created the policy six years ago after watching students bring "bottles of soda and flaming hot chips" on field trips for their lunch. Although she would not name any other schools that employ such practices, she said it was fairly common.

A Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman said she could not say how many schools prohibit packed lunches and that decision is left to the judgment of the principals.

"While there is no formal policy, principals use common sense judgment based on their individual school environments," Monique Bond wrote in an email. "In this case, this principal is encouraging the healthier choices and attempting to make an impact that extends beyond the classroom."

Any school that bans homemade lunches also puts more money in the pockets of the district's food provider, Chartwells-Thompson. The federal government pays the district for each free or reduced-price lunch taken, and the caterer receives a set fee from the district per lunch.

At Little Village, most students must take the meals served in the cafeteria or go hungry or both. During a recent visit to the school, dozens of students took the lunch but threw most of it in the garbage uneaten. Though CPS has improved the nutritional quality of its meals this year, it also has seen a drop-off in meal participation among students, many of whom say the food tastes bad.

"Some of the kids don't like the food they give at our school for lunch or breakfast," said Little Village parent Erica Martinez. "So it would be a good idea if they could bring their lunch so they could at least eat something."

"(My grandson) is really picky about what he eats," said Anna Torrez, who was picking up the boy from school. "I think they should be able to bring their lunch. Other schools let them. But at this school, they don't."

But parent Miguel Medina said he thinks the "no home lunch policy" is a good one. "The school food is very healthy," he said, "and when they bring the food from home, there is no control over the food."

At Claremont Academy Elementary School on the South Side, officials allow packed lunches but confiscate any snacks loaded with sugar or salt. (They often are returned after school.) Principal Rebecca Stinson said that though students may not like it, she has yet to hear a parent complain.

"The kids may have money or earn money and (buy junk food) without their parents' knowledge," Stinson said, adding that most parents expect that the school will look out for their children.

Such discussions over school lunches and healthy eating echo a larger national debate about the role government should play in individual food choices.

"This is such a fundamental infringement on parental responsibility," said J. Justin Wilson, a senior researcher at the Washington-based Center for Consumer Freedom, which is partially funded by the food industry.
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Dr. Krieg · Apr 11, 2011

KIRK1ADM · Apr 11, 2011

Bickendan · Apr 11, 2011

TheBurgerKing · Apr 11, 2011

ibtl, bitches

Tuttle · Apr 11, 2011

Good find.

[And Paladin's head won't explode because Oldfella's thread has a title that is sorta descriptive of the topic, but it's only sorta so he still might short out for a milisec or two, only time will tell.]

Muad Dib · Apr 11, 2011

Muad Dib · Apr 11, 2011

KIRK1ADM · Apr 11, 2011

Muad Dib said: ↑

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Ah that's an oldie, but a goodie. That was a couple of avatars ago for me.

Muad Dib · Apr 11, 2011

KIRK1ADM said: ↑

Muad Dib said: ↑

Click to expand...

Ah that's an oldie, but a goodie. That was a couple of avatars ago for me.
Click to expand...

It's in my old Gallery photos and the WF Gallery has been locked up for a long time.

The Gallery is still there.

Chuck · Apr 11, 2011

Hopefully he'll just lock one of the threads instead of merging them.

Paladin · Apr 12, 2011

http://www.wordforge.net/showthread.php?t=86599

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You Can Have My Twinkees...

Bulldog Only Pawn in Game of Life

Dr. Krieg Stay at Home Astronaut. Administrator Overlord

KIRK1ADM Bored Being

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

TheBurgerKing The Monarch of Flavor

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

KIRK1ADM Bored Being

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Chuck Go Giants!

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

Log in or Sign up

You Can Have My Twinkees...

Bulldog Only Pawn in Game of Life

Dr. Krieg Stay at Home Astronaut. Administrator Overlord

KIRK1ADM Bored Being

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

TheBurgerKing The Monarch of Flavor

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

KIRK1ADM Bored Being

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Chuck Go Giants!

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

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