From Larissa on Thu, April 30, 2009

I can’t believe they had to cancel their “Real Food Picnic”—shame on their parents for caving in to the district’s fears!

From Gail on Fri, May 01, 2009

I love these young food activists!  What a good way to send a message to the school and food service.  There is so much fear around eating real food, it makes me crazy.  Good work 4th graders, you are my inspiration.

From Tiffany on Wed, May 06, 2009

I am so glad that the younger generation is awake to this issue.  We will need that energy to make the necessary changes.  GO FOURTH GRADERS!!!!!!

From Ed on Wed, May 06, 2009

F is for French Fry has another good post on school lunches, this one about the difference between them internationally: http://www.schoolfoodpolicy.com/2009/05/04/country-watch-france/

From Gina on Wed, May 06, 2009

This story gives me goosebumps every time I read it! Go kids, go!

From Proud Daughter of Eve on Thu, May 07, 2009

Larissa, I think you’d be slower to call shame on the parents and administrators if it were your child with the allergies.  Food allergies are no joke.  While it is too bad that the action had to be cancelled, it’s better cancelled beforehand than ended due to medical emergency.

From jerry on Thu, May 07, 2009

my kids both “brown-bagged” it during their grade school days.

From Spencer R. on Mon, May 11, 2009

Don’t give up kids, you’re doing a good thing!

From chef pati on Wed, May 13, 2009

It does me good to read that the fourth graders of Nuestro Mundo Elementary are leading the way for the rest of us, showing us what needs to be done. By all means, protest those horrible, unhealthy school lunches!

Let’s compost the fear about food allergies being an appropriate reason to cancel an eat-in (as well as all the other strengthless reasons given by the school official). Yes, food alleregies are real. But so are the solutions. What parent would allow their child with food allergies to go to school without appropriate food and knowledge of what they need to avoid—whether it is every day or a special event like the eat-in pot luck? (I grew up with asthma and was closely instructed that I was never allowed to run.)

Every parent should be wondering what the true content of school lunches are and what health reactions the lunches cause for every student. Everything bad we know about food is being fed to our school-age children in school lunch programs throughout the United States.

Parents—your children are looking to you for guidance. Don’t whimp out on them! Stand up to the school officials. They are public servants paid with your taxes and they are there to serve you and your children.

You go students! Lead on!

Chef Pati Chepourkova

From Proud Daughter of Eve on Wed, May 13, 2009

The thing with food allergies is yeah, you can teach your school-aged kid what to look out for and how to care for him- or herself.  You can’t teach every child in his or her class the kind of vigilance that some people need.  Some people are so deadly allergic that eating a sandwich made with a knife that had been used to spread peanut butter - even if it’s been washed - can affect them.  With a couple of dozen fourth-graders involved, I think the administration’s concerns about supervision and safety are fully justified.

Then there’s the media angle.  No matter the cause, I would not be comfortable with the media being involved in any way with my young child without me.

In the end, the children managed their aim; they’ve made their concerns known and action is being taken.  What are we complaining about?

From Proud Parent on Mon, May 18, 2009

Larissa:

The parents really didn’t cave to the administration. The administration showed up on the day of the planned boycott and shut it down. This district has had a history of leading by intimidation, but parents and children are moving forward with efforts because (to coin a pop phrase) we’re fed up and we’re not going to take it anymore. Go kids GO!

From Sue on Mon, May 18, 2009

Parents always have the choice of packing their child a lunch from home or letting the child learn the responsibility of packing their own lunch. School lunches must be careful about food allergies, the source of protein because of religious beliefs, and the cost. A potluck is not controlled and health standards are not followed in every household. Don’t like what you see on the menu-Pack a lunch!

From Kelli on Mon, May 18, 2009

Additional information:  Nuestro Mundo Comm School shares a building, a cafeteria, food service and some staff with Frank Allis Elem.  Approximately 74 students in 4th grade at these schools receive their lunch for free or at a reduced price ($.40)  While I agree that school lunches should be healthier and there must be a more “green” way to serve these lunches, I’m not sure these parents thought about how many children depend on this food for daily nutrition.  Were these students and parents prepared to feed over 100 children?

From Jane Wyngaard-Innes on Mon, May 18, 2009

I hate the thought of the kids who eat free and reduced lunch being ostracized or guilt tripped, as they’re dependent on the school lunch.  Yes, many of us brown bagged our lunch in school, but this is not an option for many of our families at NM/Allis.

From dj on Mon, May 18, 2009

...i’m wondering, if these conscious-minded youth/teachers/parents were mindful enough to take into account ‘permission’ from student’s parents, avoiding any drama from potential food-allergies.

why on earth would you ‘ban’ your child eating a healthy meal (chocked full of vegetables and the like), vs. eating the deep-fried, grease-soaked food that’s pumped into them throughout the school year?!?!

step-it-up parents, ‘slow-food’ is way more healthier than those FDA approved school lunches.  had i been given the opportunity back in the day, i would have so gone for ‘real food picnic’.  laziness should not be an option for the ‘health’ of your children.  (just my opinion - what do i know, i’m 27yrs old)

From dj on Mon, May 18, 2009

formal apologies to the folks/kids who may take offense.  when i was a kid, i was one of the kids who received assistance - so i know that road.

i’m still - ALL for ‘slow-food’/‘real-food’

From lrm on Tue, May 19, 2009

Children who receive free/reduced lunches were taken into consideration and were NEVER ostracized or guilt-tripped.

As parents of the BCSL group at NMCS, many of us did bring to our children’s attention that for many of their classmates and friends school lunches are their only options…for some school breakfasts and lunches may be the only balanced meals they are guaranteed to eat on any given day. 

Furthermore, the kids were planning to provide enough food for themselves and for anyone in the 4th grade @ NMCS who was interested but may not have been able to afford to participate. Also, as this generation is growing up very conscious of food allergies, children with allergies were taken into account.

From lrm on Tue, May 19, 2009

The fact that school lunches are some kids only meal option is another reason why these meals should be more healthy.

From Proud Daughter of Eve on Tue, May 19, 2009

I’m glad to hear that allergies were taken into account.  In the end, though, it was the school’s butt that would be on the line if anything did go wrong.  The kids wouldn’t be held responsible.  The parents might.  The administration?  Definitely!

From Gordon Simmons on Fri, May 22, 2009

Wow! There are so many great things about this story: children activists, school lunch reform, students participating in governement.

Kudos to the parents who supported the initiative. Too bad the kids didn’t actually get to stage their “Eat-In,” but they are to be commended for finding an alternative in their letter writing campaign instead of just giving up.

Thanks for sharing.

From Rodney M. Burton on Sun, May 24, 2009

From Rodney, May 24, 2009

Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful!

From drock on Tue, October 20, 2009

this is a joke ill bet the people in charge were laughing at them. i mean come on, fourth graders? no one is going to give in to a boycott by fourth graders

From Nancy on Wed, November 04, 2009

First of all wheat is a very common allergen,but so is gluten.The tests for celiac sprue and wheat allergy can help,but its not a die hard rule for diagnosis.The best thing to do is eliminate wheat first from your diet,and maybe even all foods containing gluten as a trial.Keep a food journal or write down what you eat in a notebook,record any symptoms you are having.If wheat is the culprit then a strict wheat free diet for a period of a month will alleviate most of your symptoms.allergy blog