Legislating Lunch: Toronto School Board

In Toronto, the school board is considering a move to force students in middle school and junior high to stay for lunch, unless given explicit written permission from parents to leave the property.

 

The motive they are claiming to keep the kids for lunch?

 

 Lunch.

 

Apparently, the TDSB is so concerned with the nutritional viability of its student  body’s lunch choices, that it wants to take away the possibility that children are leaving the nutritional sanctity of the cafeteria for the high-caloric cess-pool that is the nearby fast-food joint.

 

Sorry, give me a minute to stop laughing.

 

I know, I know; you are asking, me – ME – quinoa pusher extraordinaire, why I think it is so farkin hilarious that the TDSB is putting our children’s health first for a change, when advocating for change.

 

Well, I’ll tell you why. Because I don’t think this has anything to do with our children’s health. What do you think the most popular item is on the menu of school cafeterias?

French fries.

 

Sure, the front page of the Nutrition Task Force Report, recently released by the TDSB shows a photo of a little girl holding a lettuce-protruding, brown-bread sandwich; apple in waiting on her tray. It’s easy to stage a picture like that.

 

I completely applaud the TDSB’s resolve to do their part to ensure that children, particularly those from impoverished, low-income or embattled homes, have access to affordable, healthy meals. But I don’t think that has anything to do with banning lunch-time excursions. Nor do I think they are really delivering on that simple objective.

By their own admission, students were ‘…adamant in their disapproval of removing french fries, soft drinks or fast foods, from school cafeteria menus.’

 

Ok, so the french fries, soft drinks and fast food stays. But it’s rounded out with offers of healthy options, right?

 

Maybe, unless you count FRUIT as a healthy option, because that’s not routinely available in school cafeterias, even though 22 % of polled students are asking for it.

Sure, the TDSB claims (in large, bold, green type) that a complete nutritious lunch can ALWAYS be had for $4.00, but I gotta wonder how appetizing that lunch is to a 12 or 13 year old. Especially when they can get a meal deal from the fast-food joint around the corner for the same price.

 

So really, what is the issue here?

 

This is a complicated, many-faceted subject. But I think the motives are very likely financial. The potential revenue loss of the 46% of students not purchasing food from the school cafeteria seems to be scaring the TDSB into legislating the lunch-time lockdown. Think of it this way – between soggy pizza and expensive fries ($2.50 for a large) and a romp outside complete with $3.00 sub, what would most kids choose. Hell, what would you choose?

 

But if you skew the odds and the choice is now between soggy pizza and expensive fries and the PB&J and apple that mom sent – well, I suspect the dining-hall detainees will be heading straight to that lunch line. Every. Time.

 

There were other reasons that this decision seems ill-advised – the report states that many commissaries are ill-equipped to handle the number of students in the schools; that they have inadequate lighting, seating and kitchen equipment; that in several instances, the cafeterias are ‘crumbling’ basements. How appetizing. At least Burger King is (relatively) clean and come complete with windows.

 

The TDSB still has some research and brainstorming to do. Hopefully, this will include reaching out to the community of parents, and hopefully, those parents give at least a tiny hoot.

 

As the mother of a child that is about to enter the Toronto public school system (and as someone whose own youth is not so far behind her that she cannot remember her own halcyon days of eating somewhere – anywhere! – besides at school), I know what I will do: continue to feed my children healthy, balanced meals and teach them why these healthy, balanced meals are important to their little bodies. And them I’m going to write that note excusing them from the school grounds. Because I believe in captivating a child’s interest, not holding a child captive.

 

This is an original Canada Moms Blog post. Karen Green also authors The Kids Are Alright.