It’s not every day you hear an 11-year-old pass up pizza and ask for more salad.
But, The Gazette reports that’s exactly what Ciara Mulvihill did when she realized Oakland Terrace Elementary School, where she recently finished the fifth grade, did not offer many healthy food options.
According to the Gazette, Ciara and several of her classmates began collecting “evidence,” like expired and undercooked foods, which they brought to the principal, Cheryl Pulliam.
“We all noticed how we didn’t really like the school lunches and they weren’t really healthy,” Ciara told The Gazette.
Marla Caplon, the director of Montgomery County Public Schools’ Division of Food and Nutrition Services, told The Gazette that after hearing from Pulliam, she suggested the school install one of the 15 salad bars donated to MCPS by Whole Foods last year.
About 32 Montgomery County elementary schools do not currently have salad bars, The Gazette reported, though Caplon said she hopes schools that do have them will see an increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables students eat.
Should schools be doing more to provide healthy food options to children? Does your child’s school offer salad, fresh fruits and vegetables?
Take our poll and respond in the comments to let us know what healthy options your childrens' schools are (or aren't) offering.
Laura Bach
12:59 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
A salad bar is nice, but it may take too much time to get their lunch, then go sit down to eat and have time with their friends. Perhaps pre-made salads would be easier & more efficient.
B Allen
12:59 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
salads don't give enough nutrition to carry a child through the school day. you people have no clue.
Barbie Rosenblatt
12:59 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I think it is wonderful that children are speaking out for healthy school lunches. However, I am not a big fan of salad bars, especially for children. It seems as though the potential for spreading disease would be higher when children can breathe on and touch the communal food. Can salads be served by cafeteria works instead?
B Allen
9:01 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Bottom line, no nutritional value that kids need. Would be better off sending a descent lunch with them. I did for my kids. Both are in excellent shape. It is the people who don't know what to do and need the government to take over and do for them that I worry about.