School Food

Last week in The Monticello News, there was a whole page about how the local schools were going to be feeding the students healthy snacks and meals this year. We applaud their efforts, but…

Think back to your days in school and remember what you ate for lunch and snacks. At my school, we had the same menu for 12 years.

Most notably on Wednesdays, we had spaghetti and a piece of white bread (the white bread was used to sop up the extra water and grease) and on Friday, a hot dog, a square piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a pint of white milk.

As we were boarding buses to go home, the school allowed the Pep Club to have a booth where we could buy candy, chips, and cold drinks. Bring back any memories?

After arriving home it was a scavenger hunt for us to find an afternoon snack to tide us over until dinner. Sometimes there was a few baked sweet potatoes already buttered hours ago, or a few pieces of corn bread again buttered hours ago. What did you find to eat?

A few years ago, a tv commercial addressed this same question, the mother finds her teenage son standing beside the refrigerator eating a stick of butter.

Schools really have their work cut out for them to change eating habits, but, alas, don’t become discouraged. My almost 25-year-old son still reminds me of forcing him to eat salad at dinner. Last weekend while eating out, he went to the AYCE salad bar before and after the entree. There is hope!