West Des Moines Parents Speak Out About Healthier School Lunch Choices

New rules that require more fruits and vegetables in federally subsidized lunches appear to be getting a mixed reaction among patrons.

The new regulations are part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in 2010.

The regulations are part of a campaign to reduce childhood obesity endorsed by, among others, First Lady Michelle Obama. According to a 2010 study by the Iowa Department of Public Health, 39 percent of Iowa elementary school children are overweight or obese. The newspaper also said a majority of children struggling with weight as adults continue to do so as adults, causing the U.S. life expectancy to dip in 2005 for the first time in 200 years.

Beth Hannah, the director of nutrition services for West Des Moines Schools, told the Des Moines Register she wishes it hadn’t been necessary to federally mandate that schools increase fresh produce in school lunches, but “we’ve had many years of not having a mandate and many years of students not even trying our fruits and vegetables.”

Critics of the new regulations told the newspaper children are leaving the cafeteria unsatisfied and hungry.

Parent Crystal Lafrentz Hale said that while her first-grader “may not be quite eating more fruits and veggies … he is willing to try more main dishes at dinner time,” according to the school district’s Facebook page.

Melissa Ann Paradise said it’s “great” that the school district is offering healthier options and thinks it’s time to take it a step farther and disallow products like soda, candy and certain prepackaged lunches that include cold cuts and cheese.

Other comments on the status update asking if children are eating more fruits and vegetables included:

“My high schooler is devastated that there aren’t cookies anymore,” commented Andrea Goerndt Masteller. “I’ll admit that even when I went to Valley eons ago, I still remember how good the cookies were.”

“Mine aren't eating more fruits and veggies,” commented Chris Johnson. “But they are asking me to pack their lunches more, which are healthy.”

Johnson and other parents noted waste as a result of the new policy, commenting, “I came to eat with my son weekly last year and was astounded by the amount of food being tossed by the kids. It has to be more this year.”

Carla Daniels Tripp also welcomes more fruits and vegetables in school lunch menus. “However,” she commented, “I really have to wonder how many of those kids eat beets, radishes and cold peas.

“I'd like to think more common and palatable choices would be provided but I appreciate and support the effort for sure,” she wrote.