Here’s an interesting piece on waste in the National School Lunch Program. I’ve discussed school food waste before, but I find all stories on the topic fascinating.
The attention grabber is that tax payer dollars are being thrown out. Does that make it worse than when kids throw out their parents’ (also tax payers) money by tossing their veggies and fruit? Food is still being sent to the landfill, usually at an alarming rate. This 2002 piece on the topic notes that studies on school plate waste range from 10 to 35 percent.
We should all object to dumpstered food because of its significant environmental impact. Yet, the fact that free food is being wasted usually yields disapproval on economic ($600 million squandered at 12 percent waste) and cultural grounds.
The original piece raises some questions: Because these kids receive their breakfast and lunch for free, is it more frustrating that they waste a large amount of food? The implication there would be that if kids really needed the food, they would eat it all. Then again, if they ate all of their greens, they might not be kids. (…joking)Â
In light of rising free lunch rolls, should there be more scrutiny on the finances of the applicants? Does the fact that the food is free impact how students perceive of it? Or is it more that the food’s quality leaves plenty to be desired?
The taste vs. health question is a hard one. There’d certainly be less waste if we served kids what tasted best to them. But I’m not sure serving Hot Cheetos would help anyone’s well-being. That’s why I don’t envy school nutritionists. Except the ones who work in Berkeley.
It’s important not to lose sight of this: it’s awesome that we can provide for those in need. And we should, because we’re a wealthy nation. There are some strategic changes we can make in how we serve lunch, perhaps. Yet, we have so much excess, we can afford to risk some waste in the name of feeding kids.
Your thoughts? And disagreeing with that last ‘graf doesn’t (necessarily) mean that you hate kids.
Comments
6 responses to “The National School Waste Program”
Jon,
I keep hearing things about this idea that, if you pay for your food, you’re less likely to waste it. Yet, this logic appears flawed when you consider that Americans pay a tremendous amount of money for food (I wouldn’t be surprised if we pay more for food than people in many other countries), and are still incredibly wasteful. When most folks pay for food, they feel they have the right to do with that food, whatever they please. This point though, I feel, is moot when discussing kids with their free breakfast and lunch programs. Until they start working, many of these kids are getting free meals from their parents, because they’re kids. For many of the kids who aren’t getting meals from home, a free meal at school is just a meal. There is a certain point in childhood development where society stops seeing food as a fundamental right. And wait Jon, how can you do a posting about school lunches and waste without talking about how horrible the food is. I am working with a summer-work program through a vocational training center, and they get the lunches for these kids through the local high school. I see the kids tossing food all the time, and frankly, I don’t blame them. Kraft Cheese is not cheese, and these Smucker’s “Uncrustables” are ridiculously disgusting. I would be overjoyed to see them get some greens in their lunches; until that time I say we can’t really blame the kids (not that I think you were).
Peace and Love,
Dan
Actually, food is cheaper in the US than any other country. Not that we actually pay less than they do elsewhere, but food is a lower percentage of our disposable income. I believe that plays a significant role in why we waste so much.
I’m sure that differs from what you see every day, Dan, working with those who can’t afford to buy food. And certainly the cost of food has risen dramatically, recently. Many people are being priced out of the supermarket and into the food bank.
I tried to recognize the low quality-ness of school lunch with my question “Or is it more that the food’s quality leaves plenty to be desired?” and how I admire what they’re doing with the School Lunch Initiative. Rest assured, I’m not that far removed from school days; I still remember how processed the food is.
Finally, funny you mention Uncrustables! I was just writing about them in a book chapter as the symbol convenience ruling all.
[note: I changed a typo–wouldn’t to would–in the 4th ‘graf]
A possible solution to the taste v. health problem is school gardens. When kids have a hand in growing their own vegetables, I think they will be MUCH more likely to eat them with gusto.
Here’s what No Impact Man says on the subject of picky kids:
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2009/07/how-to-get-your-child-to-eat-almost-any-vegetable.html
Just as an aside, you should do a piece on wasted food in the nursing home sector. My FIL was in a nursing home for over 2 years, and the food that was wasted was mind boggling! Residents that never eat more than two or three mouthfulls had to be served a full tray with all of the nutritional requirements met, and everything on the tray must be disposed of, even if they sleep thru the meal and never touch it! It was insane.
@molly, I’m a big fan of school gardens. They’re great for so many reasons.
@sewingirl, nursing home food waste is pretty awful and worth further examination. But the solutions are hard to pull off, given the way most homes serve their meals. Plus, you can’t really tell their loved ones that you’re not serving them the full number of calories needed. Any ideas on how to reduce waste there?
Jonathan,
I volunteered for a study here in Illinois, done by the local food bank, of kids in summer programs that were getting lunch.
I was horrified that the children are being TAUGHT to waste food. They are instructed to throw out what they do not consume at the meal — apparently no saving allowed, even if the food won’t spoil.
How does the private sector prevent waste? When you get ketchup for your fries at fast-food restaurants, they often have a pump dospenser so that you can take what you need. So why not a similar piece of equipment for milk for the children, instead of daily throwing away 1/2 a carton meant as an individual serving?