Cooking bread with benefits – like fiber, protein and zero net carbs.
In school canteens, real food is rarely on the menu.
Corrupt cafeterias
One in three American children is overweight or obese. And school food doesn’t help.
- 92% of school breakfasts and 69% of lunches contain 10% of calories from added sugar.
- School vending machine items contain up to 72% of calories from added sugar.
- 89% of school lunch directors struggle to source foods that meet nutritional guidelines.
Beyond physical health, there is growing evidence that poor dietary choices lead to cognitive and behavioral problems, having a negative impact academic performance.
Great lunch
Despite calls for nutritious options, a broken system stands in the way of real change.
Exchange. Government funds subsidize school meals – but production costs are now reduced exceed repayment rate. So while the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides free or reduced-price meals to low-income families, schools spend more by providing them with cheap, easy-to-prepare foods.
And with 9.3 million children facing food insecurity, these low-quality lunches are often the only choice.
Collection. By checking the box on price and convenience, Big Food is seizing the opportunity in schools. Leveraging lobbying and loopholes to keep quality standards low, the industry ensures its products are considered school meals.
The latest example, Kraft Heinz introduced a new line of Lunchables this spring, intentionally adapted to the NSLP criteria. Detailing its strategy in an investor presentation, the company said it was targeting the “untapped” $25 billion-plus school market.
The trap ? Already unhealthy, school versions contain more sodium than their store-bought counterparts.
Interestingly, Lunchables debuted at a time when tobacco giant Philip Morris owned Kraft – part of a plan to design addictive and “hyper-appetizing” foods. Despite their origins and nutritional deficiencies, Lunchables remain a cafeteria staple decades later.
Worse still, the food that children find at home or elsewhere is not better.
- 70% packed lunches contain highly processed foods.
- Products marketed to children are upper in sugar and lower in nutrients compared to general food products.
- Ultra-processed foods make up 67% calories consumed by children; half don’t eat a single vegetable during the week.
Shortage
Critically important issue, improving school meals could help Lower BMIwhile subsidized meals in daycare prevent malnutrition and hospitalizations.
But even though the USDA strives to revision school nutrition standards, conflicts of interest influences from food and drink, pharmacy and weight loss could stifle progress.
Not without hope, Little Spoon has expanded beyond infants to improve the health of Lunchables for ‘big kids’ and a meal planning app Breakfastswhich generates real food-focused menus for children and families, explores B2B.
But in the face of limited alternatives and rising prices, nutritious foods remain out of reach for schools, parents and, ultimately, children.
Looking forward: Kids may not know it, but adults can’t deny the sad state of school meals. Yet instead of demanding change, we let food companies and policymakers rig the system while children bear the consequences. A collective failure, the status quo is unacceptable, but for now there appears to be little appetite for action.
