Poor kids in N.M. schools forced to eat cold cheese sandwiches when parents can't pay

I'll give you my cold cheese sandwich and my sisters phone number for your PBJ! Capitalism at it's best.

The other option is for lazy parents to start a food coop amongst themselves and pack their kids a varied & nutritious lunch.

I went for a month eating bean sprout sandwiches for lunch after I sprouted a bumper crop of mung beans for my kids science project.

OK I will admit though, that most kids would rather shove a sharp stick in their eye than eat mung bean sandwiches.





[edit on 25-2-2009 by Sparky63]

Originally posted by stevegmu

Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by staple

 

You are right the do serve peanut butter sandwiches also, how can I forget about that one.

I think all schools do that to save money.

I don't think public schools are allowed to serve peanut butter anymore, as some kid might be allergic. Some school districts have even banned milk.

The schools here do still serve peanut butter and milk both.
I do realize some have banned it but our county hasn't.

sorry somehow that posted twice

[edit on 2/25/2009 by mommy4life]

Originally posted by marg6043
When I was in the school system working as a teacher the cold sandwiches was usually served a few times during the month to save the school money.

So I don't get it, I guess in NM it seems like something new, but trust me here in Ga they do it all the time.

BTW this so sad that when I was growing up back in the 70s we were given a hot home made meal everyday for lunch paid by the government and this was in my Island of PR.

They used to cook just like my mom at home.

Now is nothing but garbage what they serve the kids in school.

Pizza, fries, dry soy burgers and chicken nuggets.

[edit on 25-2-2009 by marg6043]

You are absolutely right. Just yesterday I ate at the cafeteria with my daughter. OMG That food was really gross and supposedly "healthy". Here's what they had: A hamburger with ketchup and mustard if they wanted it, some fries shaped like smilely faces *cool* with ketchup, a choice between stewed strawberries and apple crisp.

Healthy? For real? And it was all not so good either.

No wonder my kid wants to take her luch everyday. Guess what she eats? A sandwich. That's what she wants. She gets a peanut butter, ham, or just cheese sandwich - which ever she chooses. She also takes fruit and a juice box.

There is nothing wrong with NM giving these kids this lunch. At least they get something. I'm happy that they care enough to feed them.

I wonder how many of these parents who cant afford lunch money for their kids have cell phones, cable or satellite tv, smoke, buy lottery tickets...ect.

The parents will be under intense scrutiny before they would qualify for free lunch once I am King of the World.

[edit on 25-2-2009 by Sparky63]

I eat cheese sandwiches for lunch and I can afford to have something else if I really wanted to, I hardly think this is a big deal.

reply to post by marg6043


i cant beleive americans are this selfish maybe if the tables turn u have a diffent heart why not haave all eat cheese sandwichs one a week and spread the proverty where not only a few are effected i have money and wouldnt hurt my pride eating a cheese sandwich if all the others are around me and times are ruffin and for godsake it N.M. not one of are best reavues

I think there were only a couple kids in my HS who were eligible for free lunches, and they got the regular entree. My school had an entree which changed everyday- like salisbury steak or pizza, but also had items the students could buy instead- like chicken sandwiches or hamburgers, or the taco bar. There were no student meal cards back then- everyone paid cash, except for the poor kids, who used tickets.
Maybe the school district in question has so many students getting free or reduced lunches they can't afford to give them the entree.

At least in our case the school actually benefits from having more kids on the lunch program, they encourage you to sign up for it if you are eligable.

Who cares, school cafeteria food is nasty anyway. I always brought my own stuff, it wasn't expensive at all and I wasn't the only one who did this. Plus, this doesn't sound like an awful lunch anyway, it's healther than mystery chilli or french fries with mystery burger meat. Although it is amusing that a school would cut all kind of programs and little extras for a new weight room and uniforms for their crappy football team.

Originally posted by BlackOps719
serving the alternative meals to children whose parents are supposed to be able to pay for some or all of their regular meals but fail to pick up the tab.

Sounds to me like the school is doing what it can to help children with deadbeat parents.

I learned about this stuff when I spent a while homeless. Food is so easy to get in this country only a deadbeat parent would ever let a child go without. Food Stamps, Food Banks and Churches and others serving hot meals. In the City I was in I could get enough food to take care of me on top of being able to get up to 5 hot meals a day in different locations.

Besides, I like cheese sandwiches. They are good.

Go to nearly any Church and you will find they will give bags of food to anyone who asks.

reply to post by Sparky63


Bean sprout sandwhiches are pretty good on whole wheat with a little avacado, tomato and thin slices of turkey! yum... then again it could be my weird pregnancy cravings!!

Now that I think about, that sounds like a good lunch to make tomorrow! BTW- my 3 yr old nephew eats it up also, so I think some kids like stuff like that, so long as they are introduced to it I believe. I could be wrong though!!

They said this doesn't count the kids on assistance. So I am thinking that this is for the parents who are not on assistance, who just are not paying.

Originally posted by HBStar
reply to post by Sparky63

 

Bean sprout sandwhiches are pretty good on whole wheat with a little avacado, tomato and thin slices of turkey! yum... then again it could be my weird pregnancy cravings!!

Now that I think about, that sounds like a good lunch to make tomorrow! BTW- my 3 yr old nephew eats it up also, so I think some kids like stuff like that, so long as they are introduced to it I believe. I could be wrong though!!

Oh GOD, I hope I'm not pregnant!!! LOL I have 5 kids, none of them would eat my bean sprouts or drink my homemade kombucha tea. Picky little crumb-munchers!

All through grade school my mom packed my lunch. The cafeteria food was considered toxic waste. Once I got into high school, I saved all my lunch money to buy gas for my car. $5.00 could buy a lot of cruising time up and down main street on the weekends.

[edit on 25-2-2009 by Sparky63]

I kinda liked the fish squares, not sure what kind of fish they were but they weren't half bad with a little ketchup.


I always avoided the chuckwagon steak, or mystery meat as we called it. I always assumed it was cat or possibly armadillo. Pretty sure it wasnt beef.

The rolls, however, were excellent

Originally posted by BlackOps719

Doesn't it seem wrong to single out and humiliate elementary age school children because of the inability of the parents to pay? Yes I know what many heartless types will say, they are deadbeats and as such deserve no sympathy.

Yes it is wrong!!!
Imagine all the fun we could have with denying a decent meal to the Bank CEO's, GM executives, and any other "big money" bail out recipient. If I had a say...they would have to eat dog food.
This is a disguting practice, carried out by socialist schools.

WOE TO THEM WHO BRING HARM AND HURT TO CHILDREN!


[edit on 25-2-2009 by burntheships]

If the title of this thread was "poor school kids" forced to eat dog food!!!

I would be concerned, but a grilled cheese?

Sheez, here in the midwest it was Pnut butter and jelly!!!

There is a program if the parents sign up and are of the income requirements that ensure the kids the hot meal at lunch, so really there is no reason that the kids don't eat a "regular school lunch".

I dunno, sometimes we want to make things look worse than they are.

I was grateful when my kids were going to school that we were able to have a reduced lunch rate, as a working single mom it was a blessing!

i dont feel bad, the parents should perhaps utilise the brains they were given to perhaps start a greehouse co-op, ive hiked NM alot, its great there. Yet its hard to farm in certain regions without constant irrigations
in place, you need infrastructure for that so you get a loan, and find a way to sell food and feed a town. There solution 1

Now someone else offer a solution, i started the circle

[edit on 25-2-2009 by mastermind77]

[edit on 25-2-2009 by mastermind77]

lucky for my town they have deals for impoverished families so kids get a good lunch

reply to post by BlackOps719


Even better than the mystery meat was when we would have mixed vegies. I never ate the mixed vegies because we would always have them after several days of corn, carrots, peas, and green beans. I would bet my life that they took the left over and put it in one big pot.

Regardless of how bad quality the "food" was, I still miss is soooo much.