Kontan.

Inspired by “Schools Get a Lesson in Lunch Line Economics” I have to start a new rant. Since when did lunch time in the cafeteria seek to serve for profit? Why is Yoo-hoo being served in ANY school?

And in Davie County, N.C.,
Yoo-hoo drinks, which had been taken off the shelf in favor of
healthier options, are back. Sure, officials would rather the kids
chugged milk. But each Yoo-hoo sale brings in 36 cents of profit.

Granted Yoo-hoo doesn’t have terrible nutritional data, but it’s the principle of the thing. PROFIT. This is a sensitive subject these days. Our children are not allowed to bring junk food snacks to school but they can buy a generic can of soda for over $1 and an assortment of overpriced candy goodies at the school concession stand. It just irks me.

Some school officials on a mission to help fight childhood obesity say
it’s becoming harder to fill students’ plates with healthy, low-fat
foods.

No doubt. The cost of good eats is soaring! Eating in the cafeteria is just not something I do anymore. It is a pain to pack a lunch, but health wise I just cannot afford to eat cafeteria food. Oh, but they have a salad. Yes, but you know as well as I do that when your nose smells something appetizing it is very tempting to give in and go for the hot lunch and not the wilted looking salad. Sometimes it looks good, but others…not so much. My current school is not nearly as bad as the previous. Fatty foods were the norm there. Here they at least make an effort.

Schools in AL are contemplating adding PE as a required course for all four years of high school. Not sure this is the answer to the obesity problem. It is certainly a start. I’m back and forth on the issue. Yes, it should be the parent’s responsibility to see that their child is exercising. Obviously it isn’t happening. However, making this change will seriously disrupt the academic pursuits of some students. If they are going to do it there needs to be some type of opt out procedure.

Back to the topic at hand…economics of school lunch dilemma. I am opposed to schools attempting to profit from the gullibility of children. They do not have the experience or self control to say, “hey, this is a rip off and I should not spend my money on it.” It’s like going to the movies. Hmmm, $3.50 for Junior Mints at the theater or $1.00 if you stop at the store on the way? What’s the better deal? Being cheap? Yes. It’s the reality of wise spending. Find the best deal and use it. Here’s another favorite…Pay a dollar and relax the dress code for the day! Guys, if it is so unimportant that you can buy your way out of it then why have it?

I know, I know. Fundraisers make the world go ’round. Whatever. We’re being .5 & .10 to death. I know that budget cuts are destroying the educational system and school lunches are suffering from increased costs of production/transportation. Politicians need to get it in gear and figure out where the priorities are.

How’s that for a procrastination rant. Off to work on my NC prep stuff. Thanks for reading.