BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) - As kids head back to school, many will see changes in their school lunch menus. FOX25's Elizabeth Hopkins took a look at what will and will not be on the lunch line this year in Massachusetts biggest school.
NO MORE HOT DOGS
Boston Public Schools tell FOX25 you won't see hot dogs in the lunch line any more instead meals will start featuring more whole meat chicken and fish. Fruit juice is also off the menu replaced by whole fresh fruits. The goal is to teach kids to incorporate fruit in their daily diets and to stop promoting fruit juice consumption. The mission is to teach kids to eat fresh fruit in school, so they ask for it at home.
PIZZA IS STAYING
Boston Public Schools will continue to service pizza. It's traditionally featured every Friday. We're told it's a whole wheat crust.
CHANGE AFTER CRITICISM
The changes come after growing criticism from parents and a citywide parent council. We asked them what's wrong with school lunches?
"Where do i start? There's a number of issues we face with the school lunches. The nutritional content of the food is really poor. So all the food is highly processed. There's very limited fruits and vegetables that are fresh and appetizing in the way they are presented."
- Roseanne Walsh, Parent
"We'd really like to know the ingredients. For example, when you talk about the pizza... there are definitely healthy ways to make pizza. We'd like to see what's in the ingredient list."
- Stephanie Shapiro Berkson
LISTENING TO PARENTS CONCERNS
Boston Public Schools tell FOX25 they are listening to parents concerns and acting on ideas that can be implemented easily and quickly.
Eliminating fruit juice from menus was an idea from the parents and was easy to implement. They are considering other proposals.
IN AGREEMENT
Boston public schools and parents we spoke with agree that new school superintendent Tommy Chang could open doors to healthier foods in schools. They say he wants to provide great meals that are healthy and gets kids ready to learn.
SHORT TERM GOALS
Boston Public School officials tell Fox 25 they plan on adding back some healthy menu items that were cut last year like a broccoli pasta dish.
Officials also plan on traveling to different urban school districts around the country to get ideas on how they can improve the food at Boston Public Schools.
