Since my son entered kindergarten, we have faced a constant battle to ensure he eats lunch at school. I’ve experimented with various tactics—offering him the option of a hot lunch, creating fun shapes with his food, and even resorting to pleading with him, teachers, and packing less nutritious items just to make sure he doesn’t return home hungry.
Now in fifth grade, the struggle continues. A few years back, I decided to drop off some supplies and coincidentally walked into lunchtime. Peering into the cafeteria, I saw my son crammed between two classmates at a tiny table, the entire class of roughly 30 squeezed into a small area. I watched as he awkwardly attempted to maneuver his arms to get food into his mouth, resembling a miniature T-rex.
The atmosphere was chaotic, as one might expect in an elementary lunchroom, and the allotted time for eating was nothing short of shocking—a mere 15 minutes. At my children’s school, lunch is combined with recess, giving them a total of 30 minutes; however, they face countless interruptions. My kids often share that they have little time to eat due to various delays—whether it’s waiting for others to line up or spending ten minutes just to get their food, leaving them with only five minutes to eat.
Five minutes to enjoy a meal. And if a child hasn’t finished by the time the next grade arrives, they can stay behind, but what kid would choose to linger when their friends are outside playing? Not mine. They’d rather toss away the lovingly packed sandwich than miss out on recess.
In my view, children are not provided with ample time or space to eat, nor are they guaranteed access to nutritious foods. Every child deserves the right to a wholesome meal at school, irrespective of their financial background. Additionally, it’s time we stop shaming kids who run out of lunch money in front of their peers. While we have made strides in increasing healthier food options in schools, we must also prioritize creating a conducive environment for children to eat.
How can we expect them to focus and learn on an empty stomach simply because they didn’t have enough time? A study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics revealed that when children were given less time to eat, they consumed less overall. Juliana Cohen, the study’s lead author, emphasized that many children, especially those from lower-income families, depend on school meals for a significant portion of their daily calorie intake, thus highlighting the importance of sufficient lunchtime.
While I recognize that my son’s lunch challenges might be an extreme example—he is easily distracted, to say the least—there are systemic issues within the public school lunch program. It’s not just about ensuring a vegetable is on their plate; many kids are going hungry and feeling embarrassed due to strict lunch schedules, rigid rules, and cramped spaces. The emphasis on ensuring kids eat seems alarmingly low on the priority list.
My son’s teacher, Ms. Davis, has been fantastic in brainstorming potential solutions. She genuinely cares for her students and has contributed significantly to this discussion. However, I urge for broader changes in public schools regarding lunch policies. Why not give them a full 30 minutes to eat? Let’s find ways to eliminate the stigma surrounding inadequate lunch funds. We should also create an environment where kids can spread out and enjoy their meals, reinforcing the idea that eating is crucial to learning. Allow them to eat and play, rather than forcing them to choose one over the other.
After all, we all know how “hangry” can lead to less than ideal behavior, and children are just small humans who experience those same feelings. Let’s work together to fill their stomachs and cultivate an atmosphere in schools that fosters proper nutrition and provides the energy they need to thrive.
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Summary
Our children need more time and space during lunch at school to ensure they can eat healthy meals and avoid feeling embarrassed about their lunch situations. It is crucial to create a supportive environment that prioritizes proper nutrition, allowing kids to learn effectively without the distractions of hunger.