This may be determined by district. In my area all meals are free so long as the kids select three of four food categories: grain, protein, fruit/vegetable, milk. One of my kids is lactose intolerant, so I’m glad she doesn’t have to grab a milk just to waste it. What I didn’t enjoy from the information they sent just before to school year was essentially the threat that if the kids don’t pull three of them four, then the meal would be charged. Charged for having less food! (I understand what is driving that, but there’s a certain absurdity to it.)
Prior to my district’s announcing free breakfast and lunch, I talked to my sister (a teacher in the Metro Detroit area) about how happy I was that this was going to be an option. She pointed out that while food may be free, it’s not all that nutritional. And it’s true. My oldest had confetti pancakes with syrup for lunch yesterday. But this is better than nothing. Is they can keep this up, maybe then we can move toward better lunch options.
