From Kathy-Ann on Wed, March 17, 2010

Hi there,
I’m an avid home cook who has volunteered with Operation Frontline (OFL) from time to time. I am writing you because you came to my attention as a food blogger in Massachusetts. I too blog at http://mothermayhave.com.
This year, as in prior years, OFL has held bake sales around the country to raise money for the eradication of childhood hunger in the U.S.  I am wondering if you’d be willing to be a part of this!  Thus far no exact date, time and place has been set. The sale will be held somewhere at some time during the April 16 - 18 weekend.
Let me know if you’re at least interested and we can go from there.  Thanks in advance for your participation!
Blessings,
Kathy-Ann

From FoodFitnessFreshAir on Wed, March 17, 2010

I similar policy was enacted my last year of high school.  Sadly, the potato chips were replaced with baked chips and baked cheetos, and low-fat versions of TastyKakes, while the fruit offerings remained as the same old red delicious apples and occasional ripe banana…It’s going to take a little bit of funding to get school lunches to become actually nutritious.

From Jerusha on Wed, March 17, 2010

Hi Kathy-Ann,

The thing to do is to get in touch with your local chapter.  You can email them at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

I’ll let them know you plan to be in touch!

Best,
Jerusha

From Mark on Wed, March 17, 2010

This is excellent to hear and I am excited to know that Massachusetts is taking a step in the right direction. I worry, however, how the schools will deal with picky eaters or students who will refuse to eat the school lunches because it’s not the junk food they’re used to eating? Unfortunately, parents will probably call in to complain that their children don’t like anything the school is serving, and some parents may even go as far as having kids bag lunch McDonald’s. How will the state deal with issues like these and find ways to actually get the kids to willingly eat the healthier school lunches?

School garden programs are one idea, but they’d have to be implemented state-wide immediately after the bill takes effect in order to make any sort of immediate difference. Anyone else have suggestions or ideas that I’m not aware of?

From Francesco Tonelli on Thu, March 18, 2010

This is great news. I hope more states will follow.
It is bad enough how fast food is everywhere around us for our kids to see and desire, but being fed fast food inside the school system is truly a shame.

From John on Thu, March 18, 2010

Mark, you make a few valid points.  Having it available isn’t the same as getting the kids to eat it.  That being said, there have been some successes getting kids involved in growing and making what is eaten in the cafeteria.  Check out “Farm-to-School Programs: Perspectives of School Food Service Professionals” in the Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior.  It addresses what makes Farm-to-School programs successful.
You won’t get everyone, but you can get some, and they’ll bring their friends along.  It’s a challenge, but it needs to be tackled.  The present course is a recipe for disaster.