Lunch has been free at my (public, US) high school since we reopened after the Covid closure. Students get a choice of main dish, beverage, and can take as many as they want of a variety of fruits and veggies. It may not be gourmet food, but it’s much healthier and more filling than that. For example, today I got a taco salad with chicken, rice, and beans; and sides of dried fruit, carrots with hummus, and an apple. As a staff member I paid $4.50. For students it’s all totally free because my school is in a high poverty area.
Having worked in a high school and when attending 10+ years ago (not in PA though), this would be basically what the lunchroom workers would serve but then there was a salad bar and fruit option that kids would frequently just skip, are we sure, sure that is not the case with this image?
The fda and the usda requires free lunch to have a daily fruit or vegetable also. And at least one leafy green a week. Or the school gets no reimbursement. All schools that get free lunch are required to have a go back box that children can put the items they don't want like the apple, or milk back into.
Gail_the_SLP on January 7th, 2023 at 05:32 UTC »
Lunch has been free at my (public, US) high school since we reopened after the Covid closure. Students get a choice of main dish, beverage, and can take as many as they want of a variety of fruits and veggies. It may not be gourmet food, but it’s much healthier and more filling than that. For example, today I got a taco salad with chicken, rice, and beans; and sides of dried fruit, carrots with hummus, and an apple. As a staff member I paid $4.50. For students it’s all totally free because my school is in a high poverty area.
GaryinZion on January 7th, 2023 at 05:55 UTC »
Having worked in a high school and when attending 10+ years ago (not in PA though), this would be basically what the lunchroom workers would serve but then there was a salad bar and fruit option that kids would frequently just skip, are we sure, sure that is not the case with this image?
Happy3532 on January 7th, 2023 at 09:57 UTC »
The fda and the usda requires free lunch to have a daily fruit or vegetable also. And at least one leafy green a week. Or the school gets no reimbursement. All schools that get free lunch are required to have a go back box that children can put the items they don't want like the apple, or milk back into.