School lunch rules caught up in politics

Some Republicans view school meals as convenient generator of emotional opposition to the incumbent president.

The institute's 2009 report called for aligning school meals with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but reducing saturated fat, sodium and calories.

In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which required the USDA to set nutrition standards for all food sold and served in schools, not only at breakfast and lunch, but also at any time during the school day.

The Senate intervened and amended the agriculture spending bill to say that none of its funds could be used to "set any maximum limits on the serving of vegetables in school meal programs" or "require crediting of tomato paste and puree based on volume."

The results include no weekly limits on French fries; a dab of tomato paste on pizza now counts as a vegetable serving.

Perhaps student activism around calories will be a first step toward advocacy for more substantive goals for their education and wellness: more and better paid teachers, better educational materials, more sensible testing, better quality food in schools, and instruction in how to grow, harvest and cook food.

Childhood obesity is not trivial in its consequences for many kids, and school food ought to be a model for how healthy, delicious food is normal fare.

Schools in which adults - principals, teachers, school food personnel and parents - care about what kids eat and act accordingly are setting examples that what kids eat matters just as much as what kids learn.