MacArthur Metro - Money Honeys, Articles, & News:
by Sharon Higgins
"Kids eating junk food? That is nothing new. I nag, preach, and explain to my kids that they need to limit the amount of junk food they eat. On some days, they get more than they should. On some days, so do I. Last spring at Bret Harte Middle School, after seeing a young man eat chips for breakfast (which he purchased at the cafeteria that morning), after attending a student-safety meeting and after working on the school's litter problem for almost two years, I decided to find out what the students were eating. For three days I randomly approached 90 students during lunchtime and asked them about their lunches."
"The two other options for kids are to bring lunch from home (18 percent) or to have the tray lunch (14 percent). The tray lunch may be purchased at a reasonable price by any student but rarely is. Usually students have it because their income qualifies them to receive it free or for a reduced price. The tray lunch is subsidized and must adhere to federal dietary guidelines. The students described the food on the tray lunches as "all right." Unfortunately, throughout Oakland in the middle and upper grades, tray lunches are stigmatized by many students and, therefore, avoided. Additionally, some families who would qualify for the lunch are unaware that they are eligible. So the sad fact is that many who can least afford to pay for their lunch will do so."
by Sharon Higgins
"Kids eating junk food? That is nothing new. I nag, preach, and explain to my kids that they need to limit the amount of junk food they eat. On some days, they get more than they should. On some days, so do I. Last spring at Bret Harte Middle School, after seeing a young man eat chips for breakfast (which he purchased at the cafeteria that morning), after attending a student-safety meeting and after working on the school's litter problem for almost two years, I decided to find out what the students were eating. For three days I randomly approached 90 students during lunchtime and asked them about their lunches."
"The two other options for kids are to bring lunch from home (18 percent) or to have the tray lunch (14 percent). The tray lunch may be purchased at a reasonable price by any student but rarely is. Usually students have it because their income qualifies them to receive it free or for a reduced price. The tray lunch is subsidized and must adhere to federal dietary guidelines. The students described the food on the tray lunches as "all right." Unfortunately, throughout Oakland in the middle and upper grades, tray lunches are stigmatized by many students and, therefore, avoided. Additionally, some families who would qualify for the lunch are unaware that they are eligible. So the sad fact is that many who can least afford to pay for their lunch will do so."