New USDA stats: Kids who eat school lunches more likely obese; school breakfasts found to be more healthy
We hear it all the time that our kids are so obese but Time magazine had two new numbers Wednesday that I had never seen before.
Buried under a story about getting kids to eat fish (which we will discuss later) were these crazy stats on childhood obesity.
FACT No. 1: “According to new USDA data, students who eat a federally funded school lunch are likelier to be overweight than those who don’t. But surprisingly, those who also get a federally funded school breakfast are at lower risk. The numbers were drawn from a survey of 13,500 kids, and while USDA officials are sure of the findings, they’re not yet”
One likely source of trouble is surely that a portion of the federally funded lunch menu comes from government surplus, which means that some meals may be based as much on what’s available as what’s nutritious. That’s not to say that plenty of federal lunches do not meet good fat, calorie and nutrition guidelines. But in those cases, the very wholesomeness of the meals may be turning kids off, pushing them to buy a la carte items (also known as junk food) that cafeterias sell as a badly needed source of income.”
“School breakfasts, by contrast, may not qualify as spa food, but they do include whole grains, fruits, fruit juices, cereal and yogurt, and they’re served at a time of day when the French fryer and the pizza oven are not yet fired up and cranking out unhealthy alternatives. A child who eats well in the morning may be less likely to gorge at noon, providing a better nutritional balance overall.”
So maybe they should serve breakfast at lunch time. Last year, the kids’ school did breakfast for lunch several times a month. Maybe it’s easier to make nutritious and the kids accept that kind of food?
What are you packing in their lunches that is better for them than what the schools are serving?? (Seriously I need some ideas. Rose isn’t buying lunch for the first time and I am struggling to send her anything interesting. Meanwhile Walsh must be having a growth spurt because he is buying and a lunch every day and I am sending him a lunch as well and he is eating both! The kid is hungry!)
Fact No. 2 — So what was the obesity rate when we were kids in the 1970s? I’ve never seen this number before!! Five percent was the rate in the 1970s for kids compared to 19 percent now, according to Time magazine. (Adults are at 27 percent now.)
Wow, that’s a huge increase. So what has changed between the 1970s to now?
Less freedom to wander and play outside?
Increase in soda and fast food consumption?
The invention of home video games?
What else has changed that would contribute to this??
So what do you make of these numbers? Why lunches so much worse for the kids than breakfast food? What are you serving for lunches that is healthier? How can we recreate the 1970s obesity rates?
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86 comments Add your comment
Becky
August 26th, 2010
4:20 pm
@Tiger..OK, you got me on that one..Oops..
motherjanegoose
August 26th, 2010
4:37 pm
Tiger…I am apologizing to you and did not mean to offend you. Truce?
Every situation is different and, of course, I do not know them all
@Photius….no catfight here. I did not want to know about bare butts and other body parts on a bike seats yesterday either but you NEVER know what you may learn here. My point was that breastfeeding is a lot of work ( this is NOT directed at you nor your wife tiger) and some women are not up to it…they give up quickly while others tough out the pain for the end result. To each his own.
I can only make a choice for myself….ultimately.
I have been told by Doctor’s that my tolerance for pain is pretty high. If only my tolerance for verbal attacks was on the same level.
@jmb…I realize that some here think I am snotty and that is probably not going to change. Others, have met me for lunch and we have had a grand time talking for at least 2 hours.
I chuckled when I got this e-mail wrap up from my first visit to Montana yesterday;
_________________was very easy to work with during the preparation
period leading up to the conference and was an energetic, fun, and
engaging presenter throughout the day. She was a high-quality speaker.
Not everyone here sees me in the same light here…that is just something I have to realize.
JJ…I love scallops. Do you know any really good seafood restaurants around here? I am up for any suggestions? I also love any kind of bread…my weakness.
Kate
August 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
@Tiger, I had the exact same problem as your wife, so I know where you’re coming from. I didn’t have a low supply, I had NO supply. I have no idea why. Although it sounds like your wife and I have similar builds and my family all insisted that my breastfeeding issues were due to me being too skinny and not eating enough. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but after being a chunky kid, I did find the idea of me being too skinny to breastfeed ironic.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
August 26th, 2010
4:53 pm
@MJG….apology accepted…thank you.
@Kate…and did you get more than a few sanctimonious “Oohhhhhhhh”s from some who asked you how long you breastfed for?
Kate
August 26th, 2010
4:55 pm
You have no idea….Actually, maybe you do!
ABC
August 26th, 2010
4:58 pm
@MJG, you may be a nice person in real life, but that does not come across in the blog. I avoid your posts for that reason and move on to the next one. Maybe you should review your posts before you hit the ’submit’ button.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
August 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
@Kate…between that and the “I could never let someone else raise my kid” comments because we had the audacity put him in daycare so my wife could work in the years before k-garden, it’s amazing I’m not incarcerated for assault right now.
Kate
August 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
@ Tiger – I’ve been fortunate enough to stay home with mine, but I do know that just as some mothers cannot produce breast milk (not even a drop!), some mothers have to work. My own mother went back to work when I was a baby, and it was’t to pay for the mercedes either! Both of my parents had to work or we would have been out on the street. I can’t believe people would give you a hard time about that. What century are we in?! Hardly anyone can stay home with their kids these days.
JJ
August 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
Sorry MJG – I very rarely go to restaurants, but I do know that several years ago Kobe Steaks japanese food over on Roswell Road makes a mean scallop!!!! But I have not been there in several years.
motherjanegoose
August 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
@jmb…NO ONE is just plain trash. Each person can and should make a contribution!
Some poor folks have absolutely put themselves in the position AND when their children do not know anything different…the cycle repeats.
Photius said this today:
- smart people breed smart children
- morons reproduce more morons
I am not so sure how smart I am but my kids are pretty smart, so maybe they do come by it honestly :0. I am absolutely smart enough to know that if you want something bad enough and you are able…you can usually work hard to achieve it. While some folks certainly do need and deserve occasional help….perpetual help has never made anyone a better person…whether those who continue to take from our government or those children whose parents give them everything.
Here is an example, I heard this from an educator here in Gwinnett:
“How is it fair that the children who eat FREE lunch are the ones who are also able to bring in 50 cents to buy ice cream each day? I could not give my own kids money for ice cream, as I was paying for their lunch and we did not have the extra $1 per day ( 2 kids) on top of lunch money.
That does not seem right to me. I wish they would just drop the ice cream as many kids are never able to buy it ( their parents are paying for their lunch). ”
Since we are talking about lunch at school…this could relate.
I will tell you that my great grandparents ( in the 1910’s) dug through other people’s trash, when they first came to America, to find food scraps. I have been told that they boiled potato peels to make a porridge/soup.
Something to think about and I am blessed that we have never had to do that.
catlady
August 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
MJG at 8:00: I think picky eaters are caused by parents making an issue of eating (hovering, pushing, bribing, giving in, etc)
MJG at 3:30: I found nursing difficult, also. Very, very painful. I made it through a couple of weeks with my 10 pound baby, then quit. With my second (my son) I absolutely wasn’t going to nurse at all but somehow as I was in labor they must have caught me after the 18th hour when they asked me. So I thought I would do it for a few days, until I went home. Well, the pain was still there but I just took it one day at a time, using ice packs and reminding myself I was only doing it one more day. He weaned at 10 months to a cup, even though I went back to work at 3 weeks and I was allowed no place or time to pump except when I went to the toilet. With the younger daughter, the pain was still there but I had hope, from previous experience, that eventually it would not hurt. I nursed her 6 months, but quit because my milk supply really wasn’t what I needed for the same reasons (back to work at 16 days, no place except the toilet to pump).
My older daughter attempted to nurse and ended up with horribly bruised and bloody breasts. She made it about 2 weeks each time. Even the lactation consultant “validated” her. (And, in talking with the lactation consultant, I gained an understanding about why it was so difficult for me–31 years later!)
My daughter in law nursed with no apparent trouble until her my grandson weaned at 10 months.
Thank God! we have choices to see that our babies are fed!
JATL
August 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
@MJG -actually I beg to differ, there are PLENTY of people who are just plain trash and worthless. Society would be better off if they would hurry up and die. Case in point:
http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cops-marietta-girls-rescued-595523.html
Maybe they’ll get in a fight and kill each other.
Kate
August 26th, 2010
6:15 pm
@JATL – I saw the same story. That is absolutely heartbreaking. I can’t believe that hasn’t made national headlines. It certainly seems like one of the worst child abuse cases I’ve seen in a while.
jan
August 26th, 2010
6:24 pm
I read for a while and then quit when everyone on here sounded so petty toward each other. Came back and am now finding the same thing today. This is like “The View” in blog form. Like someone said last week, goodbye and will not be back.
motherjanegoose
August 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
@ JATL…o.k. then, you can go to bat with jmb, since perhaps he/she is not aware of some folks out there who are beyond KUKOO. That story was something else.
catlady…my thoughts exactly on picky eaters but I was waiting to see if was perhaps it was just me…maybe not. I am aware that some children have sensory issues with food and that is another story.
My friend ( retired teacher 65 plus) was driving down here from out of state today through your area. After our lunch I told her all about you. She she is a lot of fun too and I think she would like to meet you. I spoke with her on the phone today (while driving …gasp) and she says to me,
‘tell catwoman I am giving her a shout as I am in ____. ” I laughed and told her to please look for catwoman in the bat cave! You live in the mountains. She loved it.
@jan, sorry you are having a bad day…if you feel you need to leave then that is your choice. Some posters do get petty…me included. I say this all the time, ” I do not eat at Mc Donald’s but they are still in business….they obviously appeal to some folks out there.” I also do not watch The View but someone must be watching it or it would not be aired…right? Some of us will still hang out on Momania and have been doing so for a while now. We do spat but several of us do get along too…kinda like brothers and sisters.
I have certainly learned a lot of things here I did not have a clue about. Some posters call it like it us and others are not quite used to it.
Denice
August 26th, 2010
7:14 pm
We might look at the food; how about looking at the amount of time children are given for lunch. 15 minutes is not a lot of time for getting ones food, sitting down and possibly have a small conversation. When do kids really get the chance to talk without other distractions??? Certainly not recess.
Denise
August 26th, 2010
7:20 pm
MJG – I went to a wonderful seafood restaurant – and I’m assuming you are in Atlanta – Red Snapper on Cheshire (sp?) Bridge. Best I’ve had.
deidre_NC
August 26th, 2010
8:45 pm
@mjg-regarding the if they get free lunch how can they afford snacks–i feel the same way a lot of times when i see people getting 300-500$$ worth of groceries-really good groceries, steaks, shrimp, etc…dressed in label clothes…hair and nails all ‘did’ and pay for the food with food stamps…and i and many others work our butts off and make very little money and cant even come close to buying the kick-butt food these people are buying. if i was on food stamps i would be ashamed to use them when i had a $100 hair color/style and nails all done…then there are the ones who buy thoughtful choices….those dont bother me…but a pack of $15 shrimp that wont feed 2 adults? grrrrrr…ok im done venting…
motherjanegoose
August 26th, 2010
9:11 pm
Denice…you have a good point! With as many kids we have in our school cafeterias these days, there is not a lot of time…usually 30 minutes from shoe in to shoe out..for lunch. Some kids cannot eat and talk at the same time, so if they allow a lot of conversation, there will be lunches thrown out and hungry children. Even I have NO idea how to solve that problem….LOL Anyone else?
@ Denise…that is about 30 minutes from us ( if there is not traffic) I may have to try it out sometime when I am closer to the area…thanks for the suggestion.
@ deirdre…kinda like those who live in the UPSCALE projects of NYC and have their CADILLAC parked there ( my daughter and I saw it) while those who actually pay the NYC market rate for housing have to rely on the transit as they cannot afford the $600 ( $20 daily to park) to have a car. Guess the project residents do not have to pay to park…or maybe they do and actually have the extra money just like the kids eating ice cream.
deidre_NC
August 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
i know mjg…i really hate to make judgements like that…it just bothers me…if i can get a $100 hair color job (and you really can tell!) and have my nails done…i dont think id have the nerve to even apply for food stamps.
deidre_NC
August 26th, 2010
9:26 pm
and at one point my youngest was on reduced 9yall might remember when i was laid off forever!) and she surely wasnt able to buy snacks at school. that was hard because she was used to it. i let her have snacks on friday…other than that we bought them…and btw…even when i was laid off for so long and on unemployment i couldnt qualify but for $10 of food stamps. how do these people get over 500$ a month??
Kady
August 27th, 2010
7:53 am
I agree with the early posters about all the reasons for the increased obesity (lack of sleep, exercise, too many processed foods , etc.) as being the root cause for the epidemic. I also think that people believe that they are educated about healthy food and are making great choices but so many unhealthy foods get labeled (in people’s minds) as healthy. A friend told me her son’s lunch was healthy because he had wheat bread on his sandwich, yogurt and juice. I challenged her to really look at the food label. That wheat bread was no different from white bread in terms of fiber, calories or fat. The yogurt was some horribly sugar-laden cartoon character mess that was really just a cup of candy with some milk solids thrown in. And of course so many people believe fruit juice is a healthy thing. Well, it can be in moderation (as maybe a substitute for one serving of fruit a day) but with kids sucking down multiple juice boxes a day, they’re just gorging on liquid calories. My friend hadn’t even bothered to buy 100% juice boxes so her son’s was full of HFCS as well.
When I see someone claim that their school lunch is healthy I think, “How are they determining ‘healthy’ [see example above]” and “Do their kids actually eat all of their lunch?”.
As for my son, we use a bento box formula and he gets a sandwich of his choosing on real whole wheat bread (whole wheat being one of first 3 ingredients), veggies of his choosing (luckily he has never met a veggie he dislikes) and a piece of fruit. Sometimes we add in things like olives, Baby Bel Light cheeses, whole grain crackers with a dab of peanut butter, salads made from whole wheat pasta or couscous , etc., yes, he does like some regular treats too so he can get a handful of Baked Lays or some animal crackers. He gets to choose Skim Milk or Water for his thermos. For snack he gets a Kashi bar or some trail mix (he and I will make a big batch every few weeks using a variety of things like different grain cereals, dried fruits – select those carefully too, and nuts). And for fun he can add a few M&Ms or Gummy Bears to his trail mix if he wants.
We are not short order cooks here – eat what’s cooked or go without. My son is an adventurous eater and will always try something new. I thank my MIL for this as she gave me the best advice. As a mother of 5, she did the following:
1. Each kid got a turn to go with her shopping and they could pick out one new item (fruit, veggie, meat, pasta, etc., no boxed meal stuff) to try. Together they’d research a recipe and cook it for the family. The kids were all excited to try their own creation, they got a cooking lesson and some one-on-one time with Mom. Win-win!
2. If a kid was hesitant to try a new item, she never fought them, she just used a method she called “the only’s”. Like if the youngest didn’t want to try it, they’d say, “Oh good, you can’t have it anyway because it’s only for grown-up’s” or if the girls didn’t want any, “It’s only for guys” , etc., Worked like a charm!
My son is 5 and has been cooking with me since he was 3. He started washing veggies and choosing pastas. Now he tears the lettuce and (with a safety knife) he cuts cooked veggies, shucks corn and helps us add seasonings and herbs. He’s planted his own herbs in a container on the deck and is diligent about tending them. His favorite food is tilapia or shrimp grilled with thyme and parmesan couscous. He will bypass candy for a really good piece of tropical fruit. He created his own salad out of cucumbers, feta, olives, diced tomatoes and a light balsamic dressing.
Yes, my son has Happy Meals and candy. He does get a juice box occasionally and we LOVE ice cream and popcorn in our home. But he knows and understands that these are treats and that treats don’t come around everyday. I think it’s exposing your child to different foods and letting them assist you in shopping, growing and preparing meals. That with exercise, can give them an edge to lifelong healthy habits!
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Becky
August 27th, 2010
9:10 am
@JATL.I was heartbroken when I saw that story..In my opinion, these people should be hung up and shot..
@diedre…Oh h3ll yeah, that ticks me off..I have seen that so many times and each time, I look at what I have in my cart and then look at what they are buying and it irks me to no end..Of course I have some family memebers that are the same way..Have a nephew that prior to him and the wife being married, she was getting food stamps..Talked to him one night and he was raving about the dinner that they had just eaten..Lobster, crab legs and rack of lamb..I was like that’s great, did my tax dollars pay for it? Needless to say, he hung up on me..I don’t care that people get food stamps, I just think that people need to pass a drug test to be able to get them..
@Kady..Sounds like your son and my grandson could be twins on their eating habits..Loves turkey sandwhiches, talapia is his favorite food of all time..He also will pick a piece of fruit over candy..Yes, they do eat junk food, but for the most part, they eat pretty decent food..
lwa
August 27th, 2010
11:43 am
I would tend to agree with the article but using the word “obese” is a little strong.
Last school year, my daughter ate lunch at school just about everyday and breakfast a lot of days. She always took fruit for lunch and eats fruits and grains all the time.
Well, the school year ended and we went shopping for shorts (this was in May). By July, all of the shorts were to big. She dropped a few inches with not a lot of physical activity. I began to think and the lightbulb went off: SCHOOL LUNCH
So this year, we are going to eat at school some days and pack our lunch most others. However, I do know that the school lunch put weight on a 10 y.o. who was growing like a week, at lots of fruits and grains (outside of school) and stays outside (she does not play video games)
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BessieBear
August 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
Kady – really good post, especially about people THINKING they have some healthy food choices. I’m working on coming up with more options for lunches. Lately we are into making homemade hummus – such as roasted red bell pepper and garlic, but good ones can be easily bought, just more expensive. The kids love spreading that on a high fiber tortilla and rolling it up. I expect my kids (6 & 9) to pack their own lunches. They never eat at the cafeteria. It is sometimes hard having to hear my daughter’s complaints about what everyone else is eating (mostly junk food). This is one of the parenting areas that is not always easy. I tell her that when she is out with friends, it is okay to eat some of those things if offered, but for everyday habits, we don’t have those things at home. My kids are learning to be good label readers – helps keep them busy at the store. Seems like there is so much recent discussion on school cafeteria meals. One thing I really like are the stories of schools having organic gardens and kids really learning where food comes from.
David S
August 30th, 2010
11:00 am
What is on the menu is all about what the government subsidizes. Government only subsidizes the unhealty stuff. End the subsidies, let the prices go where they should, and you will finally see fruits and vegetables become comparitively affordable and everyone will be eating better, just to save money.
M.G.
September 7th, 2010
11:18 pm
“School breakfasts, by contrast, may not qualify as spa food, but they do include whole grains, fruits, fruit juices, cereal and yogurt, and they’re served at a time of day when the French fryer and the pizza oven are not yet fired up and cranking out unhealthy alternatives. A child who eats well in the morning may be less likely to gorge at noon, providing a better nutritional balance overall.”
I don’t know what kind of breakfast this article is talking about but in Gwinnett County where I work the children are served chicken biscuits, waffles, pancakes, sausage pizzas and other delights for breakfast. There is never any fresh fruit, yogurt or cereal. At lunch children have healthier options, however many children choose to drink chocolate milk and purchase ice cream (it is a school fundraiser) instead of eating their fresh fruit and veggies. I work hard to help my students make healthy choices, however at times it is an uphill battle.