Why has it become so difficult for parents to complete the simple task of packing their child a healthy and well-balanced lunch?
But even as I appreciated my ability to do it every day, it also became quite tedious! Kids often cling to their tried-and-true favorites, and parents are sometimes hesitant to pack too many new or healthier items for fear that their child will refuse to eat them and will then go hungry all afternoon.
What role do sugar-sweetened beverages play in childhood obesity? Are there other items you think should be banned in school lunchrooms? So my views on that issue have definitely evolved. My personal preference would be to allow cafeterias to serve flavored milk just once a week, so kids regard it as a special treat rather than as a daily beverage. FPC: You recently posted a comment on Twitter about the disappearing lunch hour and the limited time children get to eat.
Should schools consider bringing back the full hour for lunch? How do shortened lunch periods impact children? Are there school districts across the country that are maintaining the lunch hour or is this a theme nation-wide?
That said, the problems pushing districts to cut lunch periods are intense and not easily solved, ranging from cafeterias that are too small to curriculum demands. But if students, parents, and concerned teachers organized and pushed back vocally, they might persuade at least some districts to find ways, other than shortening lunch, to create more time in the classroom. But my question is always: are those programs fully replicable? FPC: You have two kids of your own.
Has the way you approach food changed since you became a mother? BES: Becoming a mother is precisely why I started writing The Lunch Tray and then Kid Food, because being responsible for the care and feeding of two little humans really opened my eyes to the ways in which our society makes it very hard for parents to raise healthy eaters. In fact, before I had children I was actually a lawyer for Big Food, and I often personally signed off on child-directed advertising for less-than-healthy products!
FPC: What is your best advice for families who are trying to introduce their children to healthy foods? FPC: What is the one food policy change at the federal level that would have the greatest impact on childhood nutrition? BES: Around 11 million children in America live in food insecure households, so it seems to me that our most pressing problem is addressing childhood hunger—by making school meals universal, expanding access to SNAP, and other, similar policy changes.
I then became a Houston stay-at-home mom, and eventually turned to a career in writing and advocacy. Food policy hero: I dedicated Kid Food to the late Dana Woldow, a dear friend and mentor who was a passionate school-food advocate both in her San Francisco district and nationally. Your breakfast this morning: Just coffee! Last meal on Earth: My grandmother used to fry cooked pasta in butter until it was crisp and lightly golden, season it with salt and paprika, and serve it with sour cream.
Favorite food hangout: Houston! Download a free copy here. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, Bettina lives in Houston with her husband and two children, and may be found on Twitter thelunchtray. Bettina's media kit is here. The Lunch Tray blog. Bettina Elias Siegel is a former lawyer, a mom of two, and a nationally recognized writer and advocate on issues relating to children and food policy. Learn more about Bettina here. Bettina blogged about children and food on T he Lunch Tray for almost a decade, attracting a dedicated readership of "TLT'ers"—parents, school food professionals, food policy thought leaders, and more.
It's behind a paywall, but if you sign up as a non-paying subscriber, you'll automatically receive a complimentary trial subscription of four free issues. Here's what people are saying about Kid Food. For information on Bettina's book tour and other upcoming appearances, visit her speaking calendar.
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