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French, fried and off the menu: Should the federal government require schools to cut back on potatoes?

By Jeremy Quattlebaum, Student Voices staff writer

Update, Jan. 25, 2012: The USDA released its new nutrition standards for schools. The verdict on French fries? They can stay, but likely will be a little less salty.

Fans of French fries, beware: Pretty soon, you may be eating less of them in your school cafeteria.

The federal government is proposing sweeping changes to the nutrition guidelines regarding school lunches that bump up the servings of leafy greens and fruits, and cut down on starchy vegetables like potatoes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is in charge of determining what ends up in school cafeterias. As part of the Obama administration’s health initiatives like Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” Campaign, the USDA has proposed guidelines that strike potatoes from the breakfast menu and allow only two servings of potatoes – about one cup – per week at lunch. Also on the hit list are other starchy vegetables like peas, lima beans and corn, lunchroom staples for many schools. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 required the USDA to update nutrition guidelines based on scientific recommendations.

Citing rising rates in childhood obesity and nutritional deficiencies in students’ diets, the USDA is pushing for more nutritional foods. “[C]urrent school menus are not required to offer the recommended quantities of fruits and vegetables (including vegetable sub groups) and whole grains,” reports the USDA’s Nutritional Standards in the National Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. And some experts say that potatoes contribute to obesity, with one medium spud containing 220 calories, no matter how it’s cooked.

Congress is involved, too, because it votes on the USDA’s budget. The House’s agriculture spending bill requires the USDA to revise its school nutrition guidelines because of the potato issue. The Senate bill doesn’t address potatoes.

So how does a federal agency that deals with farms and agriculture get the authority to decide what schools serve? It comes down to subsidies. A subsidy is money that the government gives to a business to help prevent that business from going under. Farms and agriculture receive heavy subsidies to produce, or in some cases to not produce, crops that are key to our diets but may not make a lot of money. Corn, potatoes, and other starchy vegetables are some of the most subsidized crops.

On the flip side, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program receive a subsidy from the USDA for every meal they serve, a plan approved by Congress. The catch is that the participating schools must serve certain foods and meet certain guidelines. Until recently, school lunches were also a way to get rid of excess crop harvests, so if the nation had a surplus of spinach, you could pretty much guess that your school cafeteria would be serving creamed spinach every week for a while. This fed students and allowed farmers to make a decent profit.

But recently, that changed. The USDA has made it a priority to educate students about healthy eating. And some argue that it should start in the cafeteria.

Not everyone is happy with the attack on potatoes. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the sixth-largest potato-growing state, is crying foul, arguing that the tubers are getting a bad rap. “I certainly agree that French fries is not the healthiest choice, but a baked potato can be a good source of potassium for our children,” Collins said in an Associated Press interview. Collins argues that by limiting the number of potato servings in school lunches, the government is hurting the farmers and the school budgets. “We remain concerned that unnecessary limitations on healthy and affordable vegetables can lead to a needless escalation in costs of the school meal programs,” she said in a letter sent to the Appropriations Committee in August.

What do you think?

Do you agree with the government’s proposal to cut the servings of potatoes offered through school lunches? Should school cafeterias be places where students can learn about proper nutrition? Will the new lunch guidelines help curb childhood obesity? Are there other, better alternatives? Join the discussion and let us know what you think!

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Comments

5/11/2012
porterville,ca

salinna
monache/smith
i think that they should not back down on potatoes. Like what are they controlling what we eat now. i believe that there parents should teach them whats good to eat and whats not. Its nothing bad with potatioes. in many cases it has helped most people. THus potatoes should stay they didnt do any harm to anybody.

4/27/2012
Porterville/CA

Mario
Smith/Monache
In my opinion, Potatoes are not the enemy. What makes potatoes so unhealthy are the added oils and salts added to it during cooking. Instead of frying in fatty oils, a more healthier solution could be baked instead. There shouldn't be a ban on these items due to the bad preparation of the crop. Instead of focusing on potatoes, we should focus more on more unhealthy choices commonly given to schools such as Pizza and Hamburgers. Potatoes are not entirely the blame.

3/30/2012
Belleville/New York

Kayla
Miss.Colby/Belleville Henderson
I dont not agree with this at all. Although it may be a healthier solution, it isnt going to stop kids from getting bigger seeming how you cant control what they eat on their own times. I absolutely love potatoes and i believe is wrong. If you ban potatoes then you should have to ban everything else unhealthly as well.

3/29/2012
ky

john
rock feild
i don't agree i love my potatoes it is some thing i look fowerd to don't take that away from us don't be that person to take away our happiness are tasty good potatos!!!!!!!!!!!! and if you do i will fight tell i get it back >:( so take that all you potato haters

3/28/2012
Oklahoma City/ Oklahoma

abby
Johnson/ Putnam City
I agree.

3/12/2012
Aurora/OH

Dana
Frankmann/Aurora City Schools
I don't agree with the governments proposal. They should keep the french fries, and cut back on other things. I think it is a good idea that students should learn about the proper nutrition because they should know it, but why are they just deciding on this now? its been a long time that we have had these things and now they are finally deciding to cut back? I don think this will help because students will eat what they want when they aren't in school.

3/8/2012
Perry,Georgia

Shentory "Papa Bear" W.
Mr.James/Perry High School
If French Fries Get taken away im gonna die. Cuz I love them and if I cant have them then ill just go buy some .

3/7/2012
Huber heights, ohio

Kaitlyn
Mrs.Karacia
I think that we should keep our french fries because it's not fair to others that are actually hungry. Just because Michelle Obama wants her kids healthy doesn't mean anything. I love the Obama's . but , i think that NO ONE should take our food. but thanks for the information to do my report.

2/23/2012
morenci az

tylerg
mrs adams morenci high school
my idea is that they shouldent because the students need there iron and the farmers could lose there crops if they lose there crops then the us could start losing the pataos. if they cut back on the patatos the the kids wont have some thing as healthy as patatos and that the kids would have more junk food to eat other than the healthy patatos.

12/12/2011
Montgomery,TX

DevinM.
Mr. Metzger
I kinda agree with the government on cutting back on the starchy, fatty foods because there is a lot of obesidy in teenage america today and not a lot of teenagers do anything to better it so this may encourge some kids to lose a little weight. However on the other hand adn may also hurt the farmers income not being able to sell as much crops to the schools as they did before.

12/2/2011
Rudyard, MT

ShelbyL.
Mrs. Campbell
Schools should probably cut back on not only the starchy foods but even more so on the deep fat fried foods. But even if French fries are cut out of schools all together, kids are still going to eat them at home and when eat out. A school may have some effect on the obesity problem but where it really needs to be fixed is at home. Eating habits are created at home and changing to healthier habits will make a big difference. But the majority of families are not going to change, and kids are still going to eat fried foods. Reducing to amount of French fries served at school might not make a huge difference but if they start it in elementary the kids might be used to it when they are older.

11/6/2011
Irving/Texas

Austin
Bradly/Nimitz
I don't think that the federal government should require schools to cut back n potatoes. Potatoes are not the main culprit. If they are going to do that, then they should cut back on all of the very greasy and sugary food. It is most likely just an excuse to save money.

11/4/2011
Benson/arizona

Lindsey
Mqrv Sorenson/Benson High School
I think schools should cut back on serving potatoes if they are frying them or breading them in any way. I think if they are baking the potatoes and only seasoning them with healthy stuff they should be allowed to serve them with no problem.

11/4/2011
Irving, TX

Diana C.
Bradley/ Nimitz
I really disagree with the fact that potatoes should be discontinued from schools. I understand that french fries are not that healthy but baked potatoes are different. In our cafeteria, they serve fries almost everyday and people got used to it. Image if that stopped; many would fight them back. It will also hurt the people that grow all this crops. Their business would decline because potatoes wouldn't be selling in big amounts anymore. I agree that cafeteria should set the example of a healthy diet for students, although a lot of them are the complete opposite. They should be an example of what is healthy to eat and what is not. I don't agree with the idea of taking potatoes out the school's lunch menu.

11/4/2011
Irving/Tx

Jennifer J.
Bradley/Nimitz
Since when are potatoes unhealthy? I can understand why french fries aren't the best -- because they're fried -- but to cut back on potatoes entirely? That's just ridiculous. That's like saying fried chicken isn't good for students therefore, chicken should be cut out. In fact, I don't see what my school cafeteria as "unhealthy." It's great that we're trying to make America healthier, but how about instead of trying to fix what's not broke, how about we actually make people take an athletics/P.E. course and actually do some physical activity? Or maybe put in a healthier selection in the vending machines. But what I don't understand is, out of all the foods in the cafeteria, why would they want to rid of potatoes?

11/4/2011
Irving/TX

Angelica R
Bradley/TX
I don't think that the government should cut the servings of potatoes because that responsibility should be left to the parents. If the parents are concerned about their childs health they should take action on what their children eat. I think that the right place to learn about proper nutrition is at home and I don't think that guidelines will curb obesity because when the children go home they are going to eat what they want, especially if their parents are not concerned. I think that schools could just persuade parents to take the initiative on helping better their childs health.

10/30/2011
Irving/Texas

Aaron
Bradley/Nimitz
I believe that it should be up to the students what they eat or what they don't eat. A kid knows what they want to eat, and shouldn't have to be told by the schoolboard. Even if the nutrition level of potatoes is a bit high, schools have been serving products, such as french fries and mashed potatoes, have been served in school cafeteria for years now, and no problems have ever presented themselves. No student should be forced to eat anything against their will, and if schools serve food that kids don't appreciate, more problems in the school with student behavior may become an issue.

10/20/2011
Irving, TX

Ali
Bradley/Nimitz
The government should not require schools to cut back on potatoes; they should spend their time on something that is actually important. Yes, obesity is a big problem in America, but is it something the government can fix? It is not. It is up to individuals to control their own weights and up to parents to encourage good eating habits in their children. Cutting back on potatoes in schools will not help the obesity problem; the worst food comes from home—think about how students always gain weight during the summer. From lack of exercise and eating unhealthy foods throughout the summer, I always see people when school starts who have gained weight. Potato cutbacks in schools will not cause children to lose weight, and it would not really encourage better eating habits considering potatoes are healthy as long as they are not fried, bogged down in butter, or made in any way that would make any food unhealthy.

10/19/2011
Irving, TX

Ashley Bou
Bradley/Nimitz
I do not agree with the government's proposal to cutting servings of potatoes in school lunches. School lunches already have food that is healthy for kids to eat. I know this because of the food changes that has happened at my school. It should be the children's choice to eat healthy or not. If the food changes are too drastic, kids will probably not eat the food. Proper nutrition at lunches would be a good place to learn, but they can also learn in classrooms also. At lunch, I choose to eat healthy food on some days. Other days I feel like eating junk food. That is why I do not think the new lunch guidelines will help curb obesity since people choose what to put in their mouth. No matter what the government does, there will still be problems with obesity. The government can make food healthier in other ways. Most of the lunch at school are not fresh where they came frozen from grocery stores. That kind of food do not carry much nutritional value. Schools can make lunch healthier by supplying food that is actually cooked and not having chicken and vegetables from the frozen food section at the grocery store. Fries can be baked instead of coming out of the fryer.

10/19/2011
Sidney, Montana

Hayley
Miss Fontana/Sidney High School
No. I love potatoes. Fries are yummy.

10/19/2011
Sidney, MT

Austin
Fontana/ Sidney High School
I believe that schools should do a little more to have more nutritional but good tasting food. However, I dont think potatoes are the main problem. It wouldnt do anything to cut back on potatoes because that doesnt mean that people will take more vegetables or more nutritional foods if they dont want them. When you get to High School you should be capable of making your own choices when it comes to eating and choosing what is good and bad for you.

10/18/2011
Rudyard/Montana

Taylor
Mrs. Campbell/North Star
Michelle Obama’s campaign, “Let’s Move”, and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act are taking action to change the nutrition guidelines required in schools. The USDA has now set a proposition that decreases the amount of potatoes available at school breakfasts and lunches. Obesity is increasing drastically, and mostly in schools. Schools are place to learn. Learn not just educational prospects but also nutritional guidelines. To teach children good nutrition you have to give them a reason to want to learn about it. Healthier lunches make kids more aware of healthy nutrition. Potatoes are a big part of nutrition. One medium potato spuds holds at least 220 calories plus all the toppings such as, butter and sour cream, add a few more extra calories to that already high-calorie potato. New lunch guidelines that the federal government should require will help curb children’s health problems both in school and out of school. Positive influences spread; therefore, if there is positive influence present in school lunch rooms, that positive influence may save their lives in the end.

10/18/2011
philadellphia/PA

bob
Nash
I don't think the government should limit what schools serve for lunch. Rather, they should promote healthy foods so that the students can choose for themselves what they want to eat. If the government tells students what they can and can't eat, they won't learn for themselves. Additionally, just because a portion of the population is overweight, that doesn't mean the whole group needs to cut high calorie foods like potatoes; in fact some underweight people and people that don't eat breakfast may actually need foods like that. In short, everyone has different nutritional needs, and the government shouldn't make decisions that assume that everyone is the same.

10/17/2011
Irving/TX

Rocio :)
Bradley/Nimitz
The attack on potatoes is meaningless. Whether the government decided to cut back on junk food in the cafeteria or not, kids will continue to eat junk food. They might even bring their own junk food for lunch from home! I admire the government's idea to help our schools construct a healthier menu, but the potatoes aren't the only problem they have to deal with. You have vending machines filled with candy and chips, and soda machines that fill the bellies of students who would rather gulp down a cold pesi than some fresh water from the fountain. The government shouldn't be focusing on just potatoes, if they want to change the way cafeterias serve food, they need to change the WHOLE menu. Not that it would make the students eat the food!

10/17/2011
Irving/TX

Mariah B.
Bradley/Nimitz
I agree with the government's initiative to cut back unhealthy foods from the cafeteria and vending machines. Childhood obesity is a huge issue across America, and though the government cannot tell parents what to feed their children, they apparently can tell the schools to choose healthier options to serve students. I do disagree, however, about the attack on potatoes. Yes, potatoes have 220 calories per serving, but the body needs those good carbs and calories. It's strange that the government has pegged potatoes as the pertinent problem, yet I haven't heard anything about the slushies and ice cream that are sold in the cafeteria. In the health documentary, Super Size Me, there is a segment on cafeteria lunches. The film showcases a school that serves food from an organic vendor that is on the approved school buyer's list. This food actually made me want to eat in the school cafeteria; the meat options were grilled or baked, the vegetables were vibrant in color and fresh, and there was not a bag of Hot Cheetohs in sight. The principal of this high school also said that this was about the same price of the unhealthy school lunch that most schools order for the children. So the potatoes shouldn't be the main problem. The preparation of the food is. Schools shouldn't completely strike spuds from the menu, but should instead find healthier ways of serving a balanced breakfast and lunch.

10/16/2011
Irving/Texas

Carmen
Bradley/Nimitz
To be completely honest, I think that no matter what people are going to continue eating how they are whether or not they are being served it at school or if they get lazy at home and want to just get something fast. Unless people change their entire life and how they live, you cant fix someones diet. The way we live is what affects our diet, It's great that they are getting involved and care, but its like trying to fix something that can't be fixed. My suggestion is maybe teaching kids at an early age how important it is to have time in your life to do certain things, so people can take care of themselves.

10/16/2011
Irving/TX

Jesse G.
Bradley/Nimitz
The government should have control on the food that comes out of the millions of cafeterias in the this nation which is serving the youth and future of the country. The biggest reason I have for my argument is that isn't the federal government responsible for much of the funding that goes into the food systems of a majority of schools? If they are the ones paying for the food shouldn't they have a say on what the students are being serve?. Yes, out of school kids can choose whatever they want to eat , but why not have them have one healthier meal once a day rather than none at all. Any help kids can get to be able to choose the healthier option could go a long way in helping them have a healthier future.

10/16/2011
Dallas/Texas

Lauren
Bradley/ nimitz
Its great that the government wants to get children healthier, and more active. But the children do not like veggies or lots of fruit. We like junk food no matter he calories or how unhealthy it is. We rather want a cookie than an apple. So if they do decided to change the menus then more kids are going to bring extra money just to buy something out of the vending machines or go to a snack bar instead of going to the regular lunch lines.

10/14/2011
Irving/Texas

Kathryn G.
Bradley/Nimitz
It is good that the government is beginning to take an interest in the health of kids and how the school system decides to deal with them,but if the changes to the menu are too drastic then the students may not want or accept the changes. Yes, school lunches need to be more healthy; however, that doesn't necessarily mean that all the foods included are completely pure. Taking out foods that kids genuinely enjoy could only make things worse for those students who are already uneasy about the changes now. So, to the people who are making these changes, please consider the fact that the students whose lunches you are changing might not fully understand why this is necessary or like this in the first place.

10/14/2011
Irving/Texas

Joan
Bradley/Nimitz
School is a place where teachers teach and students learn. Even though I oppose the idea of the government cutting the servings of potatoes, especially french fries, offered through school lunches, I support it because being healthy is important. The earlier young kids learn how to eat properly, the healthier they will be. It is just sad that America is known as a land with the highest percentage of fat people on earth. Through this cut on serving french fries, it is plausible for America to get healthier, well if only the students' parents feed them properly at home as well. Proper nutrition adds several years to people's lives. Proper nutrition is definitely something students should learn or know about at an early age. The number of overweight and obese kids will, for sure, decrease with this special government regulation on proper nutrition at schools all over the nation. Parents who oppose to this can simply send a sacked lunch filled with homemade meals along with the students to school everyday. French fries promote obesity in America.

10/13/2011
Irving/ Tx

Caterine Cruz
Bradley/Nimitz
I see what the government is trying to do. The government has good intentions but certain kids need starchy foods in their diet. Yes the in every school we should have a nutrition guideline. Schools should offer healthy food for those students that need to or want to eat healthy. At least once a week they should take away. This way students can start getting use to the change. Also they should serve water or juice that helps us during the day to keep our energy up and not just fall asleep in class. So yes I do agree with the cuts the government is making it just helps us in the future

10/13/2011
Irving/TX

Sara
Bradley/Nimitz
I do not think that the government should be able to control how much the children eat in school. I understand that they're trying to help but by altering the amount served it hurts the people down the line. The farmers over produce, and then don't get a profit. So they pretty much go to waste. I think there could be other alternatives. Like maybe adding other foods to serve so the kids have more option, finding other ways to cook the potatoes, or doing exercises in the PE program they have. But not messing up the cycle that the potatoes come from.

10/13/2011
Irving, TX

Cynthia G
Bradley/Nimitz
The government should not be worried about the foods that are coming out of the schools cafeteria. I understand that their intentions are to teach the students about good nutrition but most students will not pay attention. Either way students are going to eat what they want to eat, and I don't believe that eating one meal from school is going to cure peoples obesity because once the student goes home they eat what they want to. Schools are transferring from fresh foods to canned and organic foods, which most students do not prefer to eat. This change is causing more and more students to leave school for lunch and have fast food or call their parents to bring them food. One meal a day is not going to harm anyone, and students should have an option to choose what they want to eat from school.

10/13/2011
Irving, TX

Joel S
Bradley/Nimitz
It is not the government’s responsibility to regulate what students can and cannot eat. All common food options should be available, and kids should be able to make their own decisions on what they eat. Childhood obesity is a personal problem, it is not the responsibility of the government to force students to eat healthily. If the government tells students what they can and can't eat, they won't learn to make healthy choices on their own. Up until this year, I had bought my lunchfrom school for seven years, and as the years went on, “unhealthy” options were taken away. Recently my school limited the distribution of chocolate milk to only once a week! This was an outrage, because I, and many others, are healthy individuals who can fight obesity on our own, without governmental initiatives. I now bring my lunch to school.

10/12/2011
Irving/TX

Fatema J
Bradley/Nimitz
I think that the government should limit what is being served for lunch but at a certain point.The fact that obesity is increasing in America should not affect the amount of food the students are being provided by school just because a portion of the population is obsessed.Some students actually need such starchy food in their diet to remain healthy, for the students understand what is good for them to eat and what is not. Moreover, a good meal helps the students overcome the distress of a whole day yet to go.

10/12/2011
Irving/TX

Luz V
Bradley/Nimitz
It is very easy to see that obesity is a growing problem amongst the youth of this country, but it can't necessarily be traced to school cafeterias. Cutting back on vegetables like potatoes in school cafeterias may help prevent a small percent of fat, but in the long run it will effect the farmers who produce the crops used in the meals. Michelle Obama and the USDA have the right idea in working for a healthier population, but they need to take everything concerning the long run into consideration – not just obese children, but the well-being of those who supply the food to the schools. School meals should be as healthy as can be, but it shouldn't be at the expense of other major parts of the economy.

10/11/2011
Irving/Texas

Marcus A.
Bradley/Nimitz High School
Sometimes too much of a good thing is not so much of a good thing. Michelle Obama even reasserted this statement during a five-minute “healthy living” segment on Disney Channel. And the government's proposal to cut the serving of potatoes offered through school lunches is leaving all jaws open. Though the federal government has a justified reason in curbing unhealthy foods from the everyday diets of students, and though the number of obese children is increasing in our country, our space is being invaded. Lunch should be a time to relax, to loosen up for a mere thirty minutes – to enjoy a satisfying meal. On top of serving lunches that do not even fully fulfill our hunger, my school's cafeteria has recently began limiting the weekly distribution of chocolate milk cartons. Yes, students may finally come to the realization that our eating habits are poor, and yes, we need nutritious meals on a daily basis. But, studies have shown that a diet without some form of fat is ultimately an unhealthy one. Depriving us of potatoes is an extremely overturning decision that will anger a large number of students, parents, grandparents, teachers, school administrators, community members, and even home-schooled children. Is this proposal worth the trouble that is likely to occur? Is this proposal worth the agony that will roam around the school like an unwavering headache? If we want to change the world, if we want to change the country, if we want to change the community – we must first listen to Ghandi and change ourselves. Instead of waiting for the government to slap us across the face in regard to our diet choices. Instead of seeing how far the charts will rise in regard to the number of obese people in this country. In the end, our future depends on our choices. Let's make the right ones.

10/10/2011
Irving/TX

Jesse
Bradley/Nimitz
Now I understand where the government gets their reasoning from, and that is that obesity is growing in America, and that fact is undeniable. However, there are certain people that could require starchy foods in their diet and thus be put at risk just because the government deems these foods “unhealthy.” Also, if the government decides to ban potatoes and potato products from the school cafeterias children will never learn how to limit themselves and deem the government as just another rule maker that takes away all the good things in life. A better plan of action would be to help kids see the pros and cons of more healthy foods as well as the potato products they have now. This way, it gives kids a more informed angle on the situation at hand and that way what the government is doing doesn’t seem so irrational, and that is why I believe the government should not take away potato products in school.

10/10/2011
Irving/TX

Derek
Bradley/NImitz
I don't think the government should limit what schools serve for lunch. Rather, they should promote healthy foods so that the students can choose for themselves what they want to eat. If the government tells students what they can and can't eat, they won't learn for themselves. Additionally, just because a portion of the population is overweight, that doesn't mean the whole group needs to cut high calorie foods like potatoes; in fact some underweight people and people that don't eat breakfast may actually need foods like that. In short, everyone has different nutritional needs, and the government shouldn't make decisions that assume that everyone is the same.

10/8/2011
Irving/Texas

Jerin
Bradly/Nimitz
I think it is a good idea that the government is proposing to cut down on french fries. But doing so is not easy. There is most probably no one in the world who does not love french fries. As a result, it will be very hard for the children to give up on having them in school. But there is also a good side to it. Reducing the amount of french fries being served helps students to develop an urge to taste other foods and in doing so, they will find out that some veggies can be just as good as french fries. To cultivate these habits, students should be taught about the various advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of foods. School cafeterias should be the first to take these steps and encourage the children to practice these good habits.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Trevor
Mr. Faulhaber
I believe there should be limits on what students eat, but up to a limit. Getting rid of potatoes and startchy food isnt going to determine what students eat though. They should be able to choose to eat healthier or not. If schools want students to eat healthier, than they need to cook healthier, but more good tasting food, because more students would eat the good tasting food rather than veggies.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Jory
Faulhaber
By the time kids are in high school they should be able to decide what food is good or bad for them. If they dont want to eat the junk food they dont have to

10/7/2011
sidney MT

Halen
mr.faulhaber sidney high school
i think school should have a limit on what food everbody eat becuaes some foods ant good for you and nobody wants to get fat but taking potatoes out of school food thats no going to help nobody . caues people are going to eat what they want to and nobody going to stop them but school should serve us better food then what they do and healther food.

10/7/2011
Sidney Montana

BoBo
Mr. Faulhaber
It would definately make the schools have healthier lunches but there are some lunches that really need fries like hamburgers and hotdogs. Schools do need to make their lunch menus healthier so the kids who do eat at the school during lunch get their nutritional values. Potatoes are needed in some aspects with some luches and they really don't need to be cut out of the lunch menus in school because its not really the potatoes that are making kids obese its the poor food choices that don't have enough nutrition that the kids need in their everday diet.

10/7/2011
Sidney, Montana

Tyler
Mr. Faulhaber/Sidney High School
I believe that potatoes are not the main problem. The way that the schools prepare the foods and the foods that they pick to serve should be taken into consideration.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Josh
Fontana/ Sidney High School
I think schools should have some limitations on what foods they serve to students but i don't think taking potatoes out of the lunches will help anything. I think they should be prepared in a healthier way than fried in grease but if we serve other more healthy vegetables how many students are even going to eat them? Also, if they serve vegetables that students don't like they're just going to bring their own food which could be just as unhealthy as French Fries. I think the potatoes are fine as long as they're prepared in a better way.

10/7/2011
Sidney High School

Joseph
Ms. Fontana
I think that its a good idea to make schools provide healthier lunches.

10/7/2011
Sidney Montana

Logan
Ms. Fontana
If schools take potatoes off of the menu and put more green vegetables on the menus, then kids will eat what they want and more than likely the less healthier foods. Potatoes ftw.

10/7/2011
Sidney, Montana

Tori
Mr. Faulhaber/ Sidney High School
I think that the schools should make heathier choices in the food choices they make for us students. Heathier choices could help cut down on the obesity in the youth today but it could also lead to students to bring their own food which could unheathy. I dont feel that cutting back on potatoes is going to help anything. Keep the potatoes, just change the way they are prepared.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Lizzy
Mr. Faulhaber/Sidney High School
I do not think that the government should cut the school servings of potatoes. I can't speak for other schools because I don't eat lunch there, but I think that our school lunches here our healthy enough as it is and cutting the potato servings would basically mean that we don't eat them anymore. I don't think you can just force students to learn how to eat healthier, if they don't like the lunch, which most students don't, they most likely wont eat it, and then what are we helping? Hungry students walking around not being able to focus? I do not think the new lunch guidlines will help curb obesity either, students will just eat how they want before and after school.

10/7/2011
Sidney,MT

justina
Mr. Faulharber/ Sidney High School
In my opinion I think schools should do more for having healthier food options. It shouldn't be just potatoes that should be getting cut back, but all unhealthy foods. The healthy food choices needs to be expanded alot more than just a few pieces of fruit and a little bit of salad.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Ashley
Mr. Faulhaber
I believe that schools should teach about healthier nutrtional values. Children need to learn how to eat right but in another sense the parents also need to learn about this also. I don't think reducing potatoes in schools is going to help much with obesity. For some people it is hereditary. For others though it is the nutritional value that they get at home. Some parents don't care what their children eat or don't feed them nutritional meals. Most children only eat one meal at school. This one meal is not going to affect a childs obesity from that one meal.

10/7/2011
Sindey Montana

Brett
Mr. Faulhaber Sidney High School
I think that the schools do need to provide students with a healthier meal plan. I wouldnt say that potatoes are the cause for our nations problem with obesity because a regular potatoe is good for you as long as you dont cook think in oil and load on all the salt. I feel that the whole nation should have a scheduled diet and training program and we wouldnt have all the obesity, diseases, and we would all be living longer and fuller lives. All the farmers that are complaining about how it is hurting them when all they have to do is start sending their extra food over to poor countries that need food and they could still make a profit off it.

10/7/2011
Sidney

Kodi
Ms. Fontana Sidney High School
I think that schools DO need to incorporate healthier food options. I don't think that we have to blame potatoes for childhood obesity because they actually do have good nutritional value if they aren't prepared in a pot of oil. America as a whole has problems with being overweight so i think it would be a smart step to integrate healthy foods into our lunches that are balanced and nutritious, including starches, and keep the desserts and fatty food to moderate amounts so they are looked at as more of a treat instead of an everyday indulgence.

10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Abbey
Ms. Fontana/ Sidney High School
I don't agree with the government's proposal to cut the servings of potatoes offered in school because it is very rarely that potatoes are served and if they are they are served with certain lunches. School cafeterias shouldn't be a place where students learn about proper nutrition, that educaion should be learn at home taught by parents as the students are growing up. New lunch guidelines will most likely not curb a lot of child obesity since not a lot of students learned the proper way to eat since a lot of parents work and hardly have time to cook a meal at home for kids so they just pick a quick dinner on their way home from a fast good restaurant or a quick cook dinner from a grocery store.

10/7/2011
Sidney Montana

Katey
Ms. Fontana.
I think that potatoes shouldn't be cut out, we use them almost everyday in some type of meal and if you start including just vegetables and fruit the schools will probably see a decline in kids that want to eat in the lunchroom. I understand that kids do need to eat healthier but why blame potatoes? theres plenty of other things that we shouldn't be eating to.