'Meatless Mondays' coming to Ann Arbor's 21 elementary schools this fall
Beef may be what's for dinner, but it's no longer for school lunch — at least on Mondays.
This fall, Ann Arbor Public Schools elementary pupils will join the ranks of celebrities like Oprah, Jessica Simpson, James Cameron and Robin Roberts and “go meatless” to start the week.
A twist on a childhood favorite, this mac 'n' cheese dish features shiitake mushrooms. Ann Arbor elementary students will see more cheese and veggies on the menu this fall, in lieu of meat.
AP file photo
It’s all part of a growing grass-roots movement called “Meatless Mondays.” It was launched in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The movement has gathered a celebrity following, with a number of well-known stars and organizations making the pledge to give up meat one day a week, at least.
According to the official website, the goal is to reduce the country’s meat consumption by 15 percent to improve people’s individual health and the health of the planet.
Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt “galvanized the nation” with voluntary meatless days during both world wars, the website says.“Our intention is to revitalize this American tradition,” it states. “…By cutting out meat just once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate change.”
Resident Heidi Alward was the catalyst to Meatless Mondays reaching the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Alward contacted Holland and the district’s food service department last winter to present the idea. She said Holland has been working diligently throughout the past several months on its approval and implementation. The meatless menu had to be cleared through Chartwells, the food service provider for the district, as well.
Holland said as of now, Meatless Mondays will boast yogurt, cheese pizza, whole grain pasta bakes and quesadillas as options.
“I am sure we will come up with more as the school year progresses,” she said. “Many of our students prefer meatless items, and we menu some meatless entrees now… I expect we will have a positive response to this initiative.”
The health and environmental benefits were what sold Holland on the concept, she said, adding the department felt it was in the best interest of the entire community to support.
Among the benefits listed on the Meatless Mondays website are:
- Lower consumptions of red and processed meat can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Consuming peas or beans can result in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium, and lower intakes of fat.
- Reduce water usage, as the water needs of livestock are greater than those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef.
Wondering why Monday? The organization said it's because most Americans begin the week on Monday.
"...We move from the freedom of the weekend back to the structure of work or school," the website said. "We set our intentions for the next six days. ... Studies suggest we are more likely to maintain behaviors begun on Monday throughout the week."
Visit the website for more information.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
A2centsworth
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
I would have less of a problem, if they were feeding the kids good quality protein like quinoa or seitan, or good healthy vegetarian fare such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, almonds, coconut milk, and chia seeds. But they are not. The fact that the school district thinks carb rich mac and velvetta cheese is a good alternative to anything, is ridiculous. They are clueless and just trying to save a buck. What is the purpose of "selling" the idea in terms of what celebrities are doing if not to try and manipulate us into buying this ridiculous notion that not serving meat is saving the planet as shown by celebrities. I am insulted by that entire concept. This is almost as bad as when they considered ketchup a vegetable! If nothing else it should be a choice! I always like to look at things from the opposite viewpoint and if it does not sound good, then the idea is then flawed. So, lets have MEATFEST MONDAYS! I bet the vegetarians would not like that, and insist on an alternative. So why deny the carnivores, meat if you would offer an alternative to vegetarians, just another example of reverse discrimination. Welcome to Ann Arbor folks!
4mytown
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
To those who do not like this idea, perhaps you would like to vote for an increase in your taxes to help support the schools to purchase more meat. I am sure that this is also a cost savings step.
A2centsworth
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
ok, lets feed our kids garbage and save the tax money for ann arbor art!
martini man
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
All they are wanting to feed these kids is a bunch of liberal BEE Esss !!
Andrew Smith
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:26 p.m.
Is a big chunk of processed American cheese - Velveeta - really healthier for kids than a slice of lean turkey or chicken?
kdadnick
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
Gee, my kids (who did not go to Ann Arbor area schools) have been out of elementary school for years. There was a lunch menu every day with 2-3 choices; usually a warm entree, a soup and sandwich type thing, or salad bar. If the entree was a popular item then it was one item or salad bar. When the teacher took attendance in the morning they also did lunch count. Can you imagine how much LESS food was wasted because the students had a choice? If they didn't want meat, they had salad bar (plus whatever the side dishes were.) If they were allergic to peanuts they didn't take the peanut butter sandwich. Such a concept -- for a decade ago!
LiberalNIMBY
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
I appreciate the increased attention being paid to the health of school lunch patrons. But how about swapping the red meat for local vegetables, rice, beans, poultry or fish? Boosting intake of sugary yogurt, "whole grain" pasta (which is 100% refined flour, not whole wheat) and fatty cheese kinda misses the point, no?
StopCrying
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
But all of those celebrities listed are fat...
A2centsworth
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 11:13 p.m.
lol!
Barbara Read
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:38 a.m.
I know it's been said, but it matters what you replace the meat with. Meat is more of a side-dish at our house. The tricky part is filling in the gap with good food.
Chelsea
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.
What I like least about this story is the reasoning AAPS gives for the switch: A) Going meatless once united a country ("to reduce consumption of KEY staples to aid the war effort"-meatlessmonday.com) B) It "lowers carbon footprint" If this was AAPS' main intention, why is this effort not described as a pilot to be used across the district in the future? (read about sustainability and omnivores: http://reason.com/archives/2012/05/05/the-joel-salatin-interview/singlepage?nomobile=1) C)"Health benefits", eg: "Lower consumptions of red and processed meat can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes." Type 2 diabetes is caused by repeated overload on the body with sugar, which is what both grains (even whole grains!) and milk break down into. Meat cannot break down into sugar, it breaks down into unique essential amino acids (and fats) which only meats can provide. AAPS' new plan does not describe a change to the other meats provided throughout the week; I can only assume they will continue to be processed and grain-raised, so the effect is negative in that what little nutrients were provided Mondays are lost will now be fortified in by way of grains and dairy (and beans, kids' favorite food!) Whole grain products and dairy products are subsidized by our tax dollars. It is CHEAPER to feed (especially children on free & reduced lunch) with grain & dairy that have been processed & fortified for addictive consumption, than to allow a few bites of protein and fat on the first day of the week, when poor children are already behind nutritionally. Grains irritate the gut lining & exacerbate health issues including ADHD, autism, and IBS. Dairy is full of hormones for cows, not people (more here: http://whole9life.com/resources/). There are many things wrong with "school lunch" in America. "Meatless Mondays" adds to that load. AAPS should be honest about the switch. It is cheaper, that's all.
brian
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.
Great, beans the classes will be filled with smelly gas in the afternoon. Come on, let the kids decide if they want to eat meat or not.
UtrespassM
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
Is there any scientific evidence that eating more meat increase the risk of illness or death? Does cheese contain more fat than lean meat?
towncryer
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
I can almost guarantee you will never see something like in the above photo as a public school lunch; it looks more like something from a high end restaurant.
Barbara Read
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:39 a.m.
That's just what I was thinking.
towncryer
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:29 a.m.
*probably should change "see something" to "see anything" before the grammar police show up, lol.
Ajua
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
Based on the vitriolic comments about this issue, I can only assume that: 1) It is mandatory in Ann Arbor to purchase a school lunch and sending a bagged lunch with a child is not an option. (Hence, all of the comments about "indoctrination" and "subjecting" these poor kids to a single meal without meat.) 2) The fatty, processed, antibiotic-filled (and usually breaded &/or fried) meat that was a staple in my school lunch program has been replaced by wholesome, organic, grain-fed and healthfully prepared meat options. As for the questions that have been raised regarding how this will affect children's school performances, the U.S. is currently has one of the highest per capita rates of meat consumption, yet we are nowhere near the top in terms of either literacy, math or science compared to other developed countries. [www.all4ed.org/files/IntlComp_FactSheet.pdf] Could eliminating 1 serving of meat a day really make this worse?
erika
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.
Not excited...since when is it appropriate to indoctrinate our young children instead of educating? Diversity within the agricultural sector is extremely important and should be emphasized versus a social/ political statement. What else are all the "cool" celebrities doing?
TommyJ
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.
Catholics have been doing this for centuries, only on fridays. Big deal.
lefty48197
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
It sounds like somebody may be trying to impose a vegetarian lifestyle on others. Will meatless Mondays and Wednesdays follow? We need a more accurate discussion of how foods affect people's health. Yes, fats and especially red meats can be the culprits in heart disease if eaten to excess. Those that advocate the low fat lifestyles seem to fail to recognize that carbohydrates are the main culprit in obesity and it's rising problem in this state and country. Obesity leads to heart disease, to diabetes, to joint failure and a whole host of other ailments. Excessive fats are no worse than excessive carbohydrates in your diet. Carbohydrates may even be worse than fats, but you never hear any of the "experts" telling us that.
ms24
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:27 p.m.
Pack. your. own. lunch.
Kenny Torrella
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Congrats to the Ann Arbor school district! This is a fantastic program that will help thousands of students eat a little healthier each week - not to mention it's a great way for Ann Arbor to show its commitment to sustainability.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
What is healthy about macaroni, almost certainly made of non-whole grain carbs, drenched in melted, processed cheese? It probably has more calories, fat, and salt than a sensible serving of chicken, fish, or steak.
Brad
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
This just played on the channel 4 news. Check out some of the comments on their site! http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Ann-Arbor-Schools-going-meatless-on-Mondays-this-Fall/-/1719418/16198442/-/format/rsss_2.0/-/guspfq/-/index.html
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
This article doesn't affect like 90% of the commenters on annarbor.com seeing as they don't actually live in Ann Arbor.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
I just have one thing to say on this: BALONEY! (Uh, well, so to speak.) Oh, and no toadstools for kids, please.
Therese
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.
I've lost my appetite... Just a glass of water, please...
Doug
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Oprah, Jessica Simpson, James Cameron and Robin Roberts are all expert dietitians? Wow! Let's have them give us a list of foods that we must ban from our school menus. Then we can follow New York's lead: no salt, only small sodas, etc. What's next - checking out the sack lunches for no no's?
YpsiGreen
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
Only Ann Arbor. 'Nuff said...
harry
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Oprah? Well Oprah told me to vote for Obama so my child will have a Big Mac.
Goober
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
I just had a fried bologna sandwich for lunch and its Monday. Eat your heart out, kids!
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
I am definitely not a vegetarian and that is still gross.
SuperiorMother
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
To those who glibly say kids can just pack a lunch if they don't like the "meatless Monday" option, it's important to remember that even in Ann Arbor, there are many low-income families who depend on free or reduced-price school lunches to help feed their children. "Just pack your own healthy lunch" isn't an option for everyone.
Doug
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
Superior Mother, I understand your point, but this is for only one day a week.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
""Just pack your own healthy lunch" isn't an option for everyone." Another reason to get off the gov't hand outs. Think it's bad none, just wait until I have to pay for your health care, I'll be coming after your smokes, booze, and candy.
Evalyn Yanna
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
I don't see more peas or beans listed in these "new" menu items. How about offering healthy, balanced choices - (pizza is NOT a vegetable!)- each and every day. Lets give them more time to exercise as that is even more crucial to reducing type 2 diabetes and other health risks.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
Most of the school vegetables that are served as a part of the hot lunch program are canned, and we know that these aren't good for us either. There is nothing quite like the smell of canned cooking vegetables to turn one's stomach.
Ron Granger
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
I propose they have one day where the lunch is all meat. It's part of a balanced diet.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
Well, after reading just about all of the comments so far I find that many of the commenters truly are interested in and learning about what good nutrition is. The more people who educate themselves and start eating good healthy cruelty free food, the better. Now if the schools and government could do the same then I would not feel so bad about how my tax dollars are being spent.
harry
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
BLAH BLAH BLAH You can eat very healthy either eating meat or not eating meat. Why is everyone in an uproar. Who cares.
jcj
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
You have got to be kidding! I get 3 comments deleted because I have the audacity to question why the article put so much stock in what a celebrity says? Why not put the emphasis on what a nutritionist or Doctor say? Not having meat one day a week is no big deal. having the article put so much creedence into what a celebrity says is a worse example for kids.
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
Agreed Harry, we'll be sure to consider that in future coverage of the topic. Doug- If you ever have a question regarding a comment which was removed please let us know in our community guideline thread here http://bit.ly/aadc-cg or email us directly at community@annarbor.com and I'll look into it for you.
Doug
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.
I've had Kyle Mattson dump some of my comments and can't figure out why. But, he is keeping the comments clean and respectable. I've read comments on other news sources that are beyond filthy and vile. I'll keep Kyle Mattson.
harry
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
Kyle He has a very good point. Who cares if Oprah or any other star endorses this. Last time I checked non of them were doctors or even nutrionalists. In our society we place too much emphasis on what the movie stars are saying especially in politics.
Kyle Mattson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
Hi jcj- I sent you an email this morning regarding the comment removal. However, we do appreciate the feedback regarding the nutritional aspect of the lunches. This is a topic which has obviously been heavily discussed on a national level and we are interested into taking a closer look into the matter as it relates to our community.
jns131
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Better yet? Brown bag it. Much healthier then the meals they serve the children today. Yuck. Have you seen what they serve? More fat and salt and sugar then if you made it yourself. Now to go make some homemade mac and cheese.
A2James
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
I propose a "Meatless Budget" for the AAPS school board. No more pork (wasteful money on consultants, paying huge salaries, maintaining overstaffed administrations). They should be setting an example...
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
I agree, when they have so many staff that they brain storm about this sort of thing. Well they have too much money.
northside
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
I'm not sure what's funnier: * A minor school menu change being annarbor.com's top story of the day * The hysterical reactions by commenters to the minor change
Angry Moderate
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:19 p.m.
Adding more fat, cholesterol, salt, sugar, and carbs to the school lunch menu is not a "minor" change.
John S. Armbruster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
So much for freedom of choice and parents making their own decisions on what their children eat. The politically correct gone amok again.
bobslowson
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
That darn gubment is taking my kids right to be obese away! How dare they...I'm gonna sue...blah blah
John S. Armbruster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
It's not the meal, it's the mandate. Personally, I work on the theory that vegetables are what food eats.
northside
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
You are so right John S. Armbruster - having a vegetarian lunch one day a week is the first towards the complete loss of our freedom!
rsa221
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
Awesome!
BR Swims
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
I'm all for vegetarian meals but the food may not be much healhier if meat is replaced by cheese. I hope the meals are low fat, too. I also hope that the dairy comes from a farm where animals are treated humanely.
jcj
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
I hope the vegetables come from a farm with no contamination from natural sources. What is safer now meat, cantaloupe or lettuce?
david singsank
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
This is nonsense that the school would even do this to follow what movie stars do. Yogurt and cheese come from cows who are outdoors creating gases even more than the cattle, lamb, pigs, chickens that are eaten for meat. Very hypocritcal menu. This is a stupid ill-advised way to create better air. Also, eating meat per se has nothing to do with diabetes, but rather excess fat whether in cheese, pasta sauces, regular yogurt, snacks, etc. The school should not be putting 'highly processed and salty' meats in same category as nonprocessed lean meats. And then there is chicken which is NOT considered red meat. TOTALLY STUPID!!
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
David, Diabetes is a result of wearing out your pancreas. This is done by eating too many carbs, like the pasta shown in the dish above.
Andrea Zastrow
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
I doubt one well balanced vegetarian meal a week is going to cause a dietary apocalypse in our elementary schools. I don't see that meal suddenly tipping the nutritional, diabetic or ecological balance in the face of all the other snacks and meals a kid eats over the course of a week, either. One positive effect here could be that because the beans and such tend to be cheaper than meat, it might allow the schools to purchase fresh produce and healthier cuts of meat than they currently are.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Me too, Andrea. But carb eaters cannot keep to just one day per week. Most people eat far more carbs each and every day than they should, and then do something especially foolish: they eat whole grains. So not only is their sugar too high, but this level is sustained for long periods of time. Remember: ask yourself, what does the farmer feed his cattle to fatten them up, protein, or grain? He feeds them grain.
Stephen Landes
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3 p.m.
The article notes, "Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt "galvanized the nation" with voluntary meatless days during both world wars, the website says." If these folks want to reinvigorate the great American Tradition of voluntary meatless days maybe they should go all the way and combine it with the events that prompted this so-called tradition -- Let's have continuous world wars, too.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
Brad, Only if a Republican holds the office of the president.
Brad
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
Does a continuous mideast war count?
whojix
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
I have a crazy friend who says it's wrong to eat meat. Is he crazy?
63Townie
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
So glop up everything with cheese to make it more palpable? Cheese is worse than lean red meat. Non-processed lean red meat in limited quantities can be part of a healthy diet. Besides, cheese is a by-product of dairy cattle, so if the schools are so interested in reducing food from cattle, milk and cheese needs to go bye bye too. What's next, "leather-less" Wednesdays?
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
My guess is that it is not real cheese anyway, ever looked at it?
Ashley Zimmerman
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
This is silly. What about children who are intolerant of soy protein, wheat protein, or lactose in cheese? Many of those same children are intolerant of beans, too.
bobslowson
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
It seems kids are allergic or intolerant to EVERYTHING these days...what happened?
dogpaddle
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
I have read this story and have read all the comments. And now I'm going to comment as a mostly Democrat with a true Libertarian leaning (in other words, one who has historically voted Dem only to wish we had a real choice at the polls and not what was left after all the clowns exited the clown car after the primaries) and as a former vegetarian: first of all, neither Obama nor anyone else in government is taking away anyone's freedoms from your guns to your food choices. Here is a question. What if you and 5 other friends decided to go to dinner and the majority wanted to go to Seva? What would you die hard meat eaters do? I don't see this as any different. No one is going to starve because the schools had no meat one day a week. There are plenty of food choices that offer plenty of nutrients (healthy or unhealthy) that don't contain animal flesh. While it's true that we as a nation do eat far too much meat compared to the rest of the world, like some of the other posters on here, I question how much healthier high fat cheese is instead of meat. But for those of you who choose (yes, it's a choice) to remain on the wrong side of history and keep your proverbial heads buried in the sand and pretend like there is no climate change happening, that our actions don't contribute to the carbon footprint, no one is taking that choice away. Will this one action make a difference? Is America's meat eating the sole problem of pollution and thus climate change. Not at all. It's all of the world's combined actions including the world's overwhelming population compared to 100 years ago and before. The point of this is that we can make tiny little changes in our habits that might make a difference. What's wrong with giving our kids a little awareness? On the other hand, if you feel strongly that you want to protest and send your child to school with all natural hormone and antibiotic-free meat on whole wheat, far better choice than Domino's pizza.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
You lost me with your first sentence, and I skipped the rest. Everything is NOT about politics.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Dog, You're on a planet that is 90% water, teeming with protein. Common sense ought to tell you that you were put here to eat fish. Ask yourself one question: when a farmer wants to fatten up is cattle for sale, what does he feed them, protein, or grain? Can you keep to 50 grams of carb (or less) per day? Then you'll most likely, be okay. Any more than that, you'll end up with blood sugars of 120 or higher in the mornings, and your body will being to die.
ViSHa
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
Anyone walk in the elementary schools right before lunch and take a sniff? Meatless Mondays are the least of their problems, just saying.
Bob Heinold
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
If the meals are balanced with the protein and calcium kids need, then okay IF the reading, math, science, social studies aren't meatless, also. -Bob Heinold
karen hockley
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
That's great that there's a meatless option but what about having a gluten free option for the kids that are on a gluten free diet?
Erich Jensen
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
I see my fellow AnnArbor.com readers are at their usual bashing best with their comments today and so early on a Monday. I propose "Bashless Mondays" for the readership unless, of course, they want to identify themselves instead of hiding behind their "cute" names.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
Too many loons to post under your real name, 1820 mean anything. The world is full of information, and loons. Just a little advice.
towncryer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:19 p.m.
Smugless Tuesdays could follow.
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
The reason I'm "bashing" is because they are issuing a "healthy" lunch, when it is indeed UNhealthy.
leezee
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
I think it's a fine idea, but why not make it Friday since for some folks that is the day they don't eat meat anyway.
wolfman jack
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
Just like Oprah ? I'm so proud.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
Isn't Oprah overweight?
djacks24
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
More starch, and empty carbs! Screw science, Oprah is always right!
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
HELLO: eating a carbohydrate diet is an excellent way to fast-track your way to diabetes. Carbs (all of them, even whole grains) are nothing but chains of sugar, which is pure poison to the body. The body responds by producing insulin, an antidote. Insulin metabolizes L-tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin. Serotonin is what triggers the pleasure centers of the brain, which is why carbs are called 'comfort' food. And please, save the 'this has been debunked' claims: it has NOT! The very first thing they teach a diabetic is to 'forget everything you've ben taught about nutrition, it's ALL wrong.' Lower fat meats, and fish, and other proteins, combined with proper exercise, is the way to a long and health life. Hint: if your body needs to produce an antidote, you probably shouldn't eat it.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
Sec, I hate 'trust me' type arguments, but you'd do yourself a real service to get that book, and read it. One thing that shocked me: nearly 70% of ALL people end up with diabetes: most type 2. How do you know you have it? When your morning sugar level after an overnight fast is 120, or higher. Most people end up over 120 at some point in their life. This higher sugar leads to heart, liver, kidney, etc., disease. But again, the rub: Doctors never list the root cause (high sugar), they list 'heart failure' or 'kidney disease' etc., as the cause of death. In fact, these organs are destroyed by high sugars. With the chemicals in the water, our foods, etc., yes, we may die anyway... but why not do all you can to live a healthy life?
SEC Fan
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
my point is that there is literally a study for just about everything we eat showing it's bad. I "mis-wrote" when I said "too much...". The studies don't actually say "too much". For example, it simply says there is a "higher risk of colon cancer" among those who eat red meat.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
Sec: Google 'Dr. Berstein's Diabetic Solution" and go to his website. He has sample chapters of his books there. It would be a good idea for EVERYONE to obtain a copy, of DBDS, at least. Dr. Berstein is the longest living type 1 diabetic on record. He became a doctor after seeing bad results on/in. his own body from eating the diet the AMA recommended. He is the one who advocated that diabetics own blood sugar meters. Nearly all of the modern methods of diabetes treatment are based on his methods. I really do not get your point(s). Read my post again: no one said to eat "too much" of anything. I said "lower fat meats, and fish, and other proteins, combined with proper exercise. Here's the rub: you can eat a very small amount of carb daily, with not much ill-effect, if your intake is 50 grams or less, per day. But almost no carb eater can do this. Did you have a bagel this morning? That's your daily carb ration, right there.
SEC Fan
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
well...don't know about that. We have studies that show: -- too much meat is bad -- too many carbs are bad -- too much fish is bad (mercury) -- gluten is bad -- GMO foods are bad -- eggs are bad -- salt is bad -- butter is bad -- margarine is bad -- whole grains are bad (contain "anti-nutrients" and toxins) -- all foods high in cholesterol/fat are bad -- Soy products are bad (modern soy products aren't fermented properly to remove toxins) -- diets high in fruits and vegetables are bad (yes...there actually is a study that shows it's bad!) So, the real bottom line is we simply need to quit eating!
jjc155
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
how about sticking teaching reading, writing and arthimatic and leave the parenting to the parents. If a parent wants their child to not eat meat so be it, but how is this a function of the education system?
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.
The schools are over staffed? Do you have proof of this?
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:56 p.m.
Because they are over staffed and have to find things to do. No one where I work would have a minute to even think of such things, Why? Because we are doing what we are paid to do, not looking for things to keep us busy.
G. Orwell
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
The LA Times (propaganda mill) came out last week claiming eggs are as bad for you as smoking!!! Eggs are one of the most nutrient dense food items. Why don't they go after Monsanto and Dow for the really dangerous GMOs. Lab experiments show that GMOs cause sterility, stunted growth, cancer and other health issues. GMO corn and soy are in just about every processed foods. You caeerie ally see what the government agenda is when they support companies like Monsanto.
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
Life would be a lot more sensible for you if you hadn't read "1984" that once time, "G. Orwell".
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.
That was a flawed Canadian study that compared eggs to smoking. I agree with the rest of your comment.
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
Monsanto really is a horrible, horrible company. Look at how they started out, for instance!
SEC Fan
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Aren't most schools "meatless" on Fridays as it is. so now there's no meat 2 days per week. hmmmm...guess you gotta pay for that art somehow :-)
dexterreader
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
@Ron .... agreed. That was my first thought also. Kids will skip an entree and select other items that may not contain the protein they need to get them through the day. My kids wouldn't touch beans when they were younger. But they were meat eaters. Tofu or mushroom burger anyone?
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
sh1: not all protein is complete i.e. contains all necessary amino acids
sh1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
It's actually a myth that you have to replace meat with protein. Protein is found so liberally in most foods that you really can't avoid it.
annarboral
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
"Studies suggest....." that means that you really don't know. So this is just the politically correct folks forcing their vision of the world on us. "Studies sugest" these peopole want to control everything you do.
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Oh those "politically correct" people and their studies! We should put an end to studying. Down with learning!
Brad
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
That's like anything that starts with "many people [...]".
hail2thevict0r
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
I wish I were back in Elementary school so I could pack a steak for lunch and eat it in protest. There's something to be said about healthy eating - but subjecting elementary kids to celebrity fads is pretty ridiculous.
SonnyDog09
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
Here's another plan. Bring Beef Jerky to school on Meatless Mondays. Sell to your classmates. Profit.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
I want to pack a very thick peanut butter & jelly sandwich!
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
All the kids at the elementary schools are probably acting much more mature about this issue than you.
G. Orwell
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
Yet another green agenda to indoctrinate school children in government controlled school system. No wonder more families are home schooling and sending their kids to private schools. The decline in US public school system is alarming after the Department of Education was created. Mission accomplished.
Middle America
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
So Ann Arbor Public Schools should be focused on the problems Detroit Public Schools have? That makes sense to you, cinnabar7071?
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
So Northside you think the schools should worry about what our kids are eating, over, lets say, why Detroit has a 50% drop out rate? Really?
northside
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
Great message G but you forgot the part about the black UN helicopters force-feeding the kids.
shepard145
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
How about "Meatless Fridays" to extend abstinence during Lent all during the school year!! ....oh, wait...
seldon
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
Lactose-intolerant kids: even more screwed than they used to be.
dmyy20
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Ok I am all for eating less meat but guys, what about kids who are lactose intolerante? Cheese, yogurt, dairy....as a kid I would probably not be able to eat any of the supplements they had on monday. Luckily I did not have to worry about what the served at school. You could, you know, bring your own lunch like all the cool kids did back in the day. Pack it at home. I did that for years and I was rather healthy. You pack a sandwich, fruit and some light snack like granola. Parents, you CAN make your kids bring a lunch and not buy unhealthy stuff at school...stop waiting for the school system and other people set out these rules to force your kids to be healthy. It starts at the home.
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
I love that I brought my own lunch from home. My mom made the best sandwiches. One time, my dad packed it and put little plastic ants in my sandwich. Mostly, though, once I was in middle school, I made my own. Good times.
MIKE
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
The cool kids brought their own lunch? I thought they hung out behind the bleachers smoking cigarettes.
outdoor6709
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
When the kids go hungry and throw the food in the garbage, will meatless Mondays go away or will the great minds introduce brain wash Tuesdays instead?
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
If they are using those "No look" cross walks, they'll be lucky to get to school. But no they are never wrong, and it wont change.
xmo
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
Now I know that this is untrue, to reduce climate change? REALLY? where is the science? I know of 40 "ROCKET SCIENTISTS" from NASA that do not agree and Rocket scientists are the smartest people in the world! ""Our intention is to revitalize this American tradition," it states. "…By cutting out meat just once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate change.""
Brad
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
And the "American tradition" that they speak of was 100% related to conservation and 0% related to nutrition. And actually not much of a tradition, either. But other than being totally inapplicable it's fine.
sh1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
Here's the science: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-greenhouse-hamburger.
Ron Granger
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
Some kids don't get breakfast, so I imagine they will miss their more hearty lunches.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
The students can get breakfast at school, many do. Not that it is healthy either, high sugar cereals, cheese sticks, French toast sticks, packaged waffles. And when they get hot lunch, a lot of it is thrown away, I see it every day. I will monitor what happens with the mac & cheese with Shiitake mushrooms. Most kids don't like mushrooms and once they hear what is in there, I doubt they are going to want it. If they get it, my prediction is they will throw it away.
GoNavy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
How about we just give the obese kids half-rations? We'd save money to boot.
mbill
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
Yuck, Shiitake Mushroom, Cheese and Noodles - 'students will see more cheese and veggies ' I Hope the monitor the TRASH
sh1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
I'm a vegetarian but don't see the sense behind taking out meat only to replace it with pizza. Not sure what message the district's trying to get across.
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
It has everything to do with saving a buck to give admins @ AAPS a raise. At my kids elementary they always have a meat-free option everyday. They're just keeping it cheap and fatty.
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
The only message important to them is that they're doing something a celebrity does. It has nothing to do with food or health.
swcornell
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
It's one meal out of 21 per week! This should not be an issue. If you want healthy kids, remove all the pop, soda, juice and snack machines from the schools.
lefty48197
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.
They should also GIVE one or two bottles of water each day to the students. Many of them will love the freebie and will drink them instead of the sugared drinks.
Enso
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
This is spot on. Countries in which meat and dairy consumption are close to zero have no heart disease, no diabetes, no heart attacks, no strokes, minimal cancer, the list goes on. Countries like this, these are ALL major killers. And countries which these foods are being introduced see a spike in these diet-related illness as well as a sharp rise in obesity. Anyone that says pasta is the enemy is foolish. More than likely they swallowed that blood-red koolaid Atkins was serving, before he died of a heart attack that his family tried to cover up. Facts are facts folks, you can believe in a mythical being that floats in the sky and changes reality if you pray hard enough, but back on earth the results of these studies are UNcontroversial.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10 p.m.
They don't really live longer...it just SEEMS like it!
Basic Bob
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
@Enso, there is no heart disease or diabetes in the vegetarian countries because people die of cholera and typhoid. These diseases are faster acting. Personally, it is harder for me to believe that if I live well I will come back as a meat source.
brb11
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
And the Maasai people have a diet consisting almost entirely of animal meats, fats, and dairy. And they have no heart disease, cancer, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_people#Diet The point is that the science of diet and obesity is a very complicated topic. There's been a lot of bad science done on this topic because it's not practical to have completely controlled diets for a substantial period of time. You have to work within the somewhat limited framework of epidemiology. Very bizarre that you harp on facts so much when you also have the circumstances of Robert Atkins' dead so wrong. He died of complications from head trauma he suffered when he fell on ice. Earlier in his life he had a heart attack that his doctor said was due to cardiomyopathy, not his diet. His doctor says he was in very good health for his age. I'm not saying this to claim support for his diet. I don't personally follow the Atkins diet. I'm saying this because for all the ranting about fact, you seem to be a bit short on them in this post.
SEC Fan
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Uhh...Enso, I know of no countries (without starvation) that have meat and dairy consumption "close to zero". Besides, they are not reducing dairy consumption...they're INCREASING it.
daytona084
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
Enso, your facts are outdated. Adkins was right. The "low fat" fad from the '80's made people obese and diabetic.
seldon
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
Which countries have meat and dairy consumption close to zero? Please name five.
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
Do you have some data to back up your claims? NO heart attacks? NO strokes? NO diabetes or heart disease? Also, what other factors are at play? What other food consumption choices are different? Soda? Fast foods? Snacks like chips and french fries? What is the average bmi in comparison? Average lift span? But I guess if there is no heart disease or heart attacks, no strokes, minimal cancer and no diabetes.... the life expectancy should be in the 100's.
Ariel
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
This is a great step in the right direction
SonnyDog09
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
One of my favorite quotes is from Larry Niven where the characters are discussing why almost all of the intelligent species in known space are either carnivores or omnivores and not herbivores, and the observation is: "It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to sneak up on a blade of grass."
Doug
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
Never heard it but glad you shared it!
Huron74
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
Darn. You beat me to it. I was googling that line myself when I read your post.
48104
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
The "meat" in school cafeterias was disgusting in my day and has only gotten worse according to my kids. They only want to buy food on the days there are meatless choices (bring back Bosco sticks!), but mostly they bring lunch from home.
Middle America
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:30 a.m.
That is meat processed in the USA! Your kids should be more patriotic.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
Bosco sticks are still available, one of the student favorites, along with chicken nuggets, and French toast sticks.
Brad
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Jessica Simpson also goes for fishless Tuesdays, restricting her diet to only "Chicken of the Sea" on those days. Yeah - let's model ourselves after her.
jcj
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
It must be a good idea if Oprah does it! NOT Is there any diet that she has not tried over the last 25 years?
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
Yes, because she is so healthy and lean.
Pablo
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
That's wonderful news. As our daughter's friend says, " I never eat anything that had a face." And, it does seem more nutritious to avoid eating food that has already been digested -- animals eat grains, etc., and then humans eat the animals.
mixmaster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
nekm1. Students and parents have a choice. Bring your lunch. Nobody is stopping you.
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
why the negative vote? what's wrong with a lean meat sandwich (turkey) on enriched bread w/lettuce and tomatoes?
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
I'll be sending a good ole turkey sandwich to school with my kids on Mondays. On whole wheat bread, with lettuce and a slice of tomato.
nekm1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Isn't "choice" wonderful? Then let everyone have a choice!
Mike D.
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:12 p.m.
I am all for healthier choices for kids, but cheese is the *least* healthy protein there is. It's fatty and full of cholesterol. Even beef has less fat and cholesterol relative to protein. Replacing a hamburger with cheese pizza, mac and cheese, or a quesadilla adds calories and fat and reduces protein. This fad has a lot to do with the dairy lobby and nothing to do with health. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07fat.html/?pagewanted=all
antikvetch
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
Has this dietary scheme been endorsed by the Kardashians, too?
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
And if a child is allergic to dairy? As some are..... What's left? Just beans? btw, consumption of fat is necessary for the growth of children and meat (protein) is not one of the foods that increases the chance of onset type 2 diabetes. Refined sugars and carbs are worse for those at risk. "pasta" is high carb and is worse than meat.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
There is very little that is healthy about the hot lunch program foods anyway. Even the supposedly fresh "fruit & vegetable" bar is sometimes a joke - pudding, which is always gone, and sometime the students just get the salad dressing and drink it. The kids sneeze into the serving trays, take bites and put it back, grab stuff with dirty hands. I would not let my child have hot lunch, and I would strongly discourage the fruit and vegetable bar!
Jake C
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
If you're that concerned about your kid's specific dietary requirements, then you pack a lunch or plan ahead based on the schools' posted menus.
CT
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
One of my kids is allergic to milk, so meat is an important part of her diet.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Let's take this one step further and put requirements on Bridge Cards. No more pop, candy, and lucky charms. Fair is fair.
Middle America
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
Thanks for looking out for the poor who are not capable of making wise decisions like you, oh wise "cinnabar7071"! Seriously though, how is that "one step further" from no meat in a school cafeteria on Mondays? Where is the link? Where is your thought process on this?
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.
This is meaningless. It would be better if they did "Sugarless Mondays", or "Wheatless Mondays", or "Dairy free" Mondays. But you would not see that because those food lobbies are so powerful. Or how about "GMO free" Mondays. If they really cared about health and obesity, they would educate themselves and the students about what is really making America fat and sick.
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
Schools already have a meat-free option...EVERYDAY!
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
While I agree with the general statements you are both making, I also think this is worthwhile. It's like a baby step toward an end goal, the end goal being a much, much healthier diet provided to our children during school hours.
daytona084
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
justcurious, you are absolutely correct. I was just about to post the same thing. Sugar and white flour are "the problem", not meat.
Max Peters
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
Because Meatless Friday's would just be too Catholic.
mpope
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
I don't think there's any such thing as " too Catholic."
SEC Fan
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
they already have Meatless Fridays....so they get mac 'n cheese twice a week now.
alarictoo
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
Bravo, Max! Bravo.
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
So much for freedom of choice.
bobslowson
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
That darn gubment taking my kids rights away! where's my rifle?
sh1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
Students can still choose to bring their own lunches.
Enso
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
Yes, choose between this fat-laden animal byproduct, or this cancer causing cholesterol ridden animal byproduct. Ah, yes... freedom!
antikvetch
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:44 a.m.
We should definitely hire a consulting firm to study the affect of this on the achievement gap.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
Actually, I am surprised AAPS is even doing this without having some kind of connection to the achievement gap. Maybe they will be having teachers chart the differences of afternoon learning behavior! Does the public know that most kids who get hot lunch throw a lot of it away?
aanative
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
AK: Hilarious comment, and great screen name!!
Technojunkie
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
This is child abuse. Young children especially need healthy fats and animal protein. The human brain is mostly fat, cholesterol in particular. Grains, whole or not, along with refined sugar are what's driving type 2 diabetes and a whole host of other chronic illness. Plus most grains these days are GMOs. Artificial food additives, mostly petroleum derivatives, are driving ADHD. Read "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston A. Price. Or try something simpler like Paleo or Primal, Robb Wolf's "The Paleo Solution" or Mark Sisson's "The Primal Blueprint". Check the associated websites at least. What the schools should be doing is sourcing local pastured meats and dairy (for children who are casein tolerant), organic veggies, healthy fats, etc. Prepare it in-house and ditch the contractors. But healthy food isn't what the feds are subsidizing with our money and school children get whatever appears cheap, even if the health consequences are devastating.
Dr. Darren Schmidt
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
@ajua- your reference is old. The brain uses ketones (from fat) and needs it more than glucose.
Ajua
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:10 a.m.
As a nursing student who recently finished an Anatomy & Physiology course I am puzzled about the statement re: the brain's need for fat and cholesterol: "Glucose is the form of sugar that travels in your bloodstream to fuel the mitochondrial furnaces responsible for your brain power. Glucose is the only fuel normally used by brain cells. Because neurons cannot store glucose, they depend on the bloodstream to deliver a constant supply of this precious fuel. This blood sugar is obtained from carbohydrates: the starches and sugars you eat in the form of grains and legumes, fruits and vegetables. (The only animal foods containing a significant amount of carbohydrates are dairy products.) Too much sugar or refined carbohydrates at one time, however, can actually deprive your brain of glucose – depleting its energy supply and compromising your brain's power to concentrate, remember, and learn." - The Franklin Institue / www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html
rsa221
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
@Techno, saying that meatless Mondays is child abuse, especially considering a lot of people don't choose to have meat in at least one or two meals daily, is a disservice to real child abuse. And aside, it can be good to give the arteries a break, young ones included.
jrtluvr1959
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
It's. one. day.
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
@Technojunkie, I one way I agree with you. School food, in general, provides way too many options that lead to issues of poor health. Overhauling the system, all the way up to what the government subsidizes, seems like the only true solution. In a few other ways, though, I disagree with you. 1) Every one of us, not just children, need healthy fats. 2) We don't need to purposefully eat foods with cholesterol in them. Our bodies make their own cholesterol, so we just need to eat enough healthy carbohydrates, fats, and proteins so our body can make it (pretty easy on a standard American diet). 3) While I'm intrigued by your statement that children need animal protein, and I want to look into the books you've mentioned, people in general don't need animal protein. Again, our bodies make it themselves, from amino acids. As long as we include the 9 essential amino acids in our diet, our bodies already make the other 12 amino acids themselves.
mixmaster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
"Child Abuse". Right out of the Fox News script. If the schools followed your recommendation, then the Tea Partiers would be complaining about the taxes.
fjord
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Your inflammatory assertion of "child abuse" is based on quack science. One could just as easily claim "child abuse" based on the kinds of meat- and dairy-laden choices students have been subjected to all these years. And the science to back up that claim is far more solid.
kms
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
I couldn't agree more! Ditching the chicken and serving up macaroni and cheese is a terrible idea. Serving grains and other carbohydrates instead of meat will have disastrous consequences over the long term and will only contribute to the childhood obesity problem. In addition to the excellent books cited above, "Wheat Belly" by William Davis also explains how our standard diet is damaging our health.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
Your comments are spot on. I could not have said it better.
Chimay
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.
Child abuse? Really?
gee
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:30 a.m.
Fantastic! Hopefully it will be popular enough to spread into the other days as well. Would be nice to accompany this change with some lessons on food production, the impact the meat industry has on the environment & the body, and the all around benefits of eating lower on the food chain. Maybe some more non-cheese based ideas as well: Hommus (that's popular enough in most homes now, right?), lentil patties, fried rice w/ tofu, bean burritos.... with someone creative and motivated designing menus, this could be a great thing!
Ann English
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.
You have me wondering if kids would ask their parents to buy, cook and eat lentils and tofu if your suggestions found their way into school lunches.
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
@pest, I get what you're saying about eating meat being okay and everything, but I completely disagree with the statement that "there is nothing wrong with the meat industry." Here are a few things about industrial meat production that irk me: 1) They use copious amounts of hormones and anti-biotics to help their animals grow to as big as possible as quickly as possible. The residual effects of of these negatively affect the health of people eating meat from these animals. 2) The meat industry is so humongous and anonymous that their focus is mainly their bottom line and if each farmer will actually make enough money every year. The focus isn't on consumer safety and long-term affects of production methods. 3) The treatment of the animals is sometimes questionable. Sometimes it's probably fine, but frequently it's pretty bad, and sometimes downright cruel. Regardless on anybody's opinion on whether this is okay or not, it is what it is.
pest
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.
I personally find hummus to be disgusting. I cannot eat soy and am allergic to dairy. There is nothing wrong with the meat industry - consumption of meat is healthy (in proper doses) and no worse for the environment than many things in your daily life.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:04 p.m.
Forget the soy...it's garbage and not good in a healthy diet.
Chimay
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:53 a.m.
I agree - I'm disappointed about the amount of cheese, but I'm delighted that they are pursuing it.
Sandy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:27 a.m.
OK all you haters - why are you dissing on this? Maybe it follows a trend, but if there are healthy and economic benefits from it, why not try it out? I think it's a great idea and I applaud the schools for giving it a go!
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
I'm dissing it because meat is not inherently unhealthy. This is another way to cut money to give the admins yet another raise. Its just disguised as concern for our health.
mixmaster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
I see that nekm1 prefers the blondes of Fox News to People magazine.
Ignatz
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
nekm1, What makes you think AA schools uses grass fed cattle? Wouldn't the low bid process so coveted by taxpayers garner the cheapest factory ranch meat?
Basic Bob
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
I wonder if Chartwells will pass on the economic benefits to the schools.
nekm1
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
Hey Sandy, what harms the environment more? Huge chemical filled and genetically engineered crop farms, or grass fed cattle? Think with you head, not your People magazine.
average joe
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 11:03 a.m.
If it is so good for the world, then why just the elementary buildings?
Ann English
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 6:12 p.m.
Don't dietary needs change according to age? I wonder if pediatricians were consulted for the guidelines.
Indymama
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
It's a mind control thing! Teach them their parents are not eating right and then they will carry on the deception!
Dog Guy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:43 a.m.
I could never get away with serving shittake mushrooms in my kids' mac and cheese. Good luck with that.
Ann English
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
I wonder if you could get away with serving your kids shiitake mushrooms in your mac and cheese if you ran them through a food processor first. How strong would the taste of the mushrooms be? I've noticed that a food processor can render shallots in a recipe invisible. Indymama, the only shiitake mushrooms I've eaten so far were sold in a jar at Greenback Dollar Store, which usually doesn't sell shiitake mushrooms. This week, Meijer is selling 8-ounce packages of white/minibella mushrooms for $1 per package. I see this Meatless Monday idea as just doing what anybody with limited income would do- not buy the more expensive food, such as meat, as often as the much-cheaper vegetables. Fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw safely far more often than meat, poultry, or fish can.
Indymama
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
Aren't mushrooms expensive ?? No wonder our schools are having budget problems!!
Itchy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:42 a.m.
"...We move from the freedom of the weekend back to the structure of work or school," the website said. "We set our intentions for the next six days. ... Studies suggest we are more likely to maintain behaviors begun on Monday throughout the week." You have to be kidding - right?
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
I'm inclined to believe that statement, thought admittedly it would have been nice to also have a link to the studies...
average joe
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
Since it's monday, I think I'll go golfing today......
thinker
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:34 a.m.
Meatless Fridays would at least make sense part of the year. Must Ann Arbor be a follower in everything?
mpope
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:09 a.m.
So meatless mondays wouldnt qualify as religiously following fads? Or would that be slavishly following fads? Really, i dont care one way or the other. But I marvel at the implication that Oprah cares about this, we should too.
Jonathan Blutarsky
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
Good one Basic Bob!
Basic Bob
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
Meatless Fridays would be construed as a religious practice and would be protested by both bacon-eaters and non-bacon-eaters.
Goober
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:33 a.m.
So, we are going to follow the advice of movie stars - eh? Reduce our carbon footprint is one of the claims. I wonder where cheese comes from?
rsa221
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
A lot of average, regular folk eat veg, too. Too bad the article started with a focus on celebrities.
mixmaster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
Cheese come from milk. I guess your point is all that methane that cows make. In their anti climate change rants Fox News made hay with that for a few weeks before mooving on to more weighty topics like the Left's war on religion.
Sven49
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 10:17 a.m.
After all, what good are our elemntary school children if we can't make them the subjects of the latest feel-good fad?
Annette Poole
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
@Mixmaster: Not to argue semantics, but Michigan doesn't "top the list" for obesity. We're #5, which is still god-awful, but #1 is Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, W. Virginia & Alabama.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
Mac & Cheese, cheese quesadillas, and cheese pizza are NOT healthier than grilled or baked chicken or salmon. They are replacing meat with fat, carbs, and salt.
mixmaster
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2 p.m.
It's not a fad if it helps people get healthier. Michigan tops the list for obesity. Eating fewer fatty foods and less of them is a good thing. Ask your doctor or any doctor. If your concern is freedom of choice, parents and students can bring their lunch.