Wellness Myths
There are several myths in the community concerning the Wellness Policy at Plymouth Community Schools. There may be more than the ones presented today, so we would be honored by your questions.
Myth 1
Portion sizes have decreased at the schools. Actually, the portion sizes for all buildings have stayed the same. We’re not serving as many dessert items and we’ve removed some of the ale carte items at the junior high and high school. The removed items such as the Twix Bars were removed because they did not fit into the definition of “Better Choice” items as described by state law.
There will also be a change in double-trays at the high school starting next week. In order to provide adequate time for all students to get through the lunch line, students will need to get their first tray of food and then return to the line for a second tray of food if they are still hungry. We hope this will give all students the opportunity to sit, relax, and eat their lunch.
Myth 2
We are searching lunches and taking out non-nutritious choices that parents send. Once again, this is not true. We encourage parents to send nutritious food in their lunches, but we have no brown-bag police. There are two items that we will not allow in school only if we see them in the lunch room. First, we don’t want students to bring soda pop in their brown bag lunch. Second, we do not want fast food bags or pizza boxes brought into the cafeteria. Allowing this type of competition with the Federal Hot Lunch Program is not allowed.
Summary
During the first two weeks of school, we sold nearly 400 hundred more breakfasts and 1,500 more lunches than we did last year during those same two weeks. Our commitment is to continuously look at ways to make school lunches nutritious, tasty, and a relaxing experience. Our students work hard and our teachers have high expectations for them. It’s important that their lunch time is a time when they can relax and eat a good lunch.
17 comments:
Would you pass on this information to your staff in the cafeteria's about Myth 2. I have had a child who had a Capri Sun thrown out. I have no problem with better choices but what I choose to put into my own child's lunch is my business. I will abide by the pop and fast food no problem but I think the juice box was a bit harsh. I would appreciate you not doing this and embarrassing students.
Do you still have pop machine and a chip and candy bar machine?
Momma (L)
Why have you taken away the soup and salad bar from the high school? Surely that would be a healthy choice for students!
I think the PCSC went a bit overboard with their "wellness policy". As usually, have to be better than the rest right?
A high school student, who is an athlete, who is given one breadstick with cheese, some marinara sauce and a small salad is not getting enough to eat. You say portion sizes have not changed but shouldn't kids at the high school get more than the kids in the elementaries? We are setting these kids up to go home after school/practice and binge eat. I think that the "wellness" policy should have spent more time looking at our school lunches then taking birthday treats away from our little kids.
Why no ISTEP snacks? Do you not think that would help test scores? We are putting all of this pressure on the "test", but we are not helping our kids by having them test when they are hungry. Some kids do not eat lunch until 1:00 and do you not think they are hungry when they are testing. What harm would some grapes have done to help those kids get through the test? I saw on TV that Walkerton Elementary has a grant that allows kids to have fresh fruit during the day. Why has PCSC taken this law and made it so difficult. What happened to doing what is best for kids?
I have to say that my high school kids complain about the school lunches and the fact that they feel they are not getting enough to eat. My kids, who are athletes and have very strenuous training schedules after school, say that kids who get a double lunch this year get their first tray, go put it down, and then immediately get in line for the second or they won’t have time to eat before getting back to class. I certainly applaud the school for implementing a wellness policy and agree with much of the philosophy… but not all kids burn the same amount of calories during the day or have the same dietary needs due to different activity levels and I feel this must be addressed! I wonder if you can tell me whether the increase in lunches and breakfasts sold is due to an increased number of kids purchasing a second meal. I would also like to know how often the Wellness Committee meets to review the results and make adjustments to the plan being implemented. Thanks for putting this topic on the blog so all can see and comment!
We should be teaching kids how to eat healthier, not to be anorexic. At home is where they may or may not be getting proper nutrition.
The schools should be giving the students opportunities to try healthy foods and then they may have their parents buy what they have tried and liked at school.
We are taking childhood away in schools as it is and now we are taking away birthday party treats. What a joke! Kids can't be kids at all anymore...no wonder why they are burnt out when they hit high school, but that is a separate issue. Let's think "the best" school corporation!
My last sentence got taken out...Let's think like the "best school" corportation and think about the kids!
Is anyone really reading these blogs!!! I don't think so, just we parnet whos kids aren't getting enough to eat. The high students need to have the soup and salad bar put back in past ASAP!!! I would love to have someone address this!!
What amazes me is that our children are not allowed to eat anything unhealthy at school, no parties, nothing to make school fun, but when it comes to fundraisers there is no limit. I think if the school is going to ask our kids to go out door to door and sell cookie dough to make the school money they should be allowed to have a party and eat a cookie at school every now and then.
This type of bickering really makes me sick. The public school system is a complete failure. Now, they think they should be in charge of deciding what my child eats. The schools should be focusing on TEACHING!! Where has this message gotten lost? You teach, I'll parent!! Thank You
Check out this website. It will show you how out of control and unreasonable the Plymouth School Corporation is. http://www.doe.state.in.us/food/school_wellness.html
Regarding the last comment... please be more specific. I didn't see what you were talking about on that website. It would be nice if this blog was used to find a constructive solution instead of just to complain! I think we all want what's best for our kids.
everyone take a deep breath and go eat a cookie when u get home
ok fat one why don't you just eat the wellness policy. don't tell me to eat a cookie
ok so what if i do? what r u gonna do about it
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