I got into an almost heated debate with another mom about school lunches.  My good friend told me to get off my soapbox.  It’s hard.  I am very passionate about good, healthy food.  I believe it is so possible to provide healthful lunches that kids will eat.  Even if it means feeding 500 plus kids. Restaurants do it all the time; hotels too.  We didn’t even have some of this junk masquerading as food half a century ago, and they managed to serve kids food— that they’d eat.  I brought up an analogy that I’ve been using lately, that parents (or adults in general) wouldn’t consider giving their kid a cigarette, but they’d allow them to eat food-stuff that is just as poisonous.  That’s what got the other mom incensed.  I’m not saying that they’re bad parents, I’m saying the food companies that put the sh*t in the foods are the bad guys.  People don’t believe that there are additives in some foods that are just as toxic as cigarettes and get angry at me when I try to compare them.  On the whole people just not been educated about it — because these “food” companies are marketing their foods as healthy.  And just like the cigarette companies did years ago, they hide or change the research to suit their ends.   

They also take healthful foods and turn them into junk.  I remember the fruit rollups we used to get in the deli as a kid.  Big sheets of apricot, grape or cherry rolled up that were sticky and fairly difficult to unravel or take off the cellophane.  Now we have too many different “fruit” snacks and roll-ups that are in all kinds of shapes and colors with cartoon characters touting the goodness of the garbage inside the box.  Yogurt now comes in neon colors with cookie toppings.  Oils are chemically changed to last forever so the foods they’re in stay “fresh” on the shelves longer.  Other countries have banned certain colors, more have warning labels on foods, and many consumer groups have recommended banning the use here— or at least warning labels. 

Look at my post about homemade chicken nuggets.  I inspired a friend with two extremely picky eaters to make them.  Her kids love them now.  And when I say picky, I mean really, really picky.  It is possible.  But it isn’t always easy and we need the parents on board. 

But I guess I’m just some unrealistic idealist  who thinks kids’ futures— physical and mental health and overall wellbeing, depend upon getting fed healthy foods.  Actually I’m here to help— whether it’s to educate, inspire or just give some pretty good recipes.  Not judge. And hey, since I was going out, my kids had pizza tonight.   I’m not perfect, I may not have the most practical view but I do care.  I want my kids, and yours, to grow up healthy and remain that way.  

I’ll step off the soapbox now and head to bed.