I ate school lunches for a year, gained fifteen pounds, and had constant bloating and constipation.

It was a Texas school district; no salad substitutions were offered.

The food service is bid out - with the lowest bid getting the job. What the company offered was pre-made, frozen food. Nothing was fresh. Even the apples were hard and unappetizing. A serving of ketchup would be counted in the "vegetable" group. The food is primarily carbs smothered or comprised of trans-fats.

School districts may opt for salad bars - I have heard of them offered; however, never had access to one.

Well, it's not enough, I suppose, that the lunches contain a healthier balance of the food groups than many adults get in their daily meals. Reduce fat? Reduce sugar?

No, we've got to eliminate them. And while we are at it, why don't we eliminate the taste of the food too? Schools already have cut recess and often activities such as music.

I find the propensity of self apointed do-gooders and short term budget fixers to eliminate the few child friendly and interesting parts of schools rather disgusting.

Noodles and oranges and fish for you kids. We love you. It's why we don't let you play, or give you any choices that we don't approve of even concerning food.

My daughter attends an elementary school in Carroll County. The cafeteria seems to pride themselves (or maybe it's a county directive) on ensuring each child has his/her fruit and vegetable when leaving the lunch line. About 15 minutes into lunch they open up the "desert" line - chips and ice cream. This seems to be a separate part of the school lunch and I'm not sure if it is a for-profit venture or if it is part of the school system. It seems in my observation that most kids don't have time to eat their fruits and vegetables but have no problem going for the desert and eating the junk. I am a little appalled that the school system would sell the chips and other junk when they are supposed to be providing healthy lunches. The whole school lunch system is a joke and we try to avoid ever having our daughter buy it. Personally, I am of the opinion that if you give the kids only good choices, they'll make good choices. And once they're in the habit of healthy eating and making good choices it will become their norm. Why are we so afraid to give kids only healthy choices?

Clarence, kids can always bring whatever foods they want from home.

This country can't vilify the overweight and obese and then turn around and defend the right of the cafeteria to serve cookies and soda to children.

If we want healthy adults they have to start as healthy kids, and that means modeling healthy behaviors in school. Bring back gym and get rid of the french fries.

Baltimore locals should definitely take a look at what Toni Geraci has to say on the topic, and what he has planned for Baltimore.

http://www.tedxmidatlantic.com/live/#TonyGeraci

Take away recess, take away sports programs, give kids a PC, nintendo, TV, etc, etc and then wonder why they're fat