This is a partnered post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
National School Lunch Week was created by President John F. Kennedy back in 1962 as a week long celebration of the school lunch program. Every year during the second week of October, members across the nation celebrate in their school cafeterias with decorations, special menus, events, and more.
The National School Lunch Week theme for 2015 is “School Lunch Snapshot” and it is all about sharing real images of today’s school lunches right from the school cafeteria.
National School Lunch Week
This week students, teachers, parents, friends and more are sharing their school lunches on social media using the #NSLW hashtag. You can search the hashtag on any social platform to see real images of school lunches in districts across the country.
In 180 school days, approximately 30 million children are served healthy meals per day in their school’s cafeteria! That’s 30 million children who are depending on the School Lunch Program to nourish their little bodies. I’m a stickler about making sure my children have a healthy lunch. I’ve written about it before and it’s so important to me because I know my children need fuel in the form of healthy food to help them focus and learn while at school.
Tray Talk, which was launched in August of 2010 by School Nutrition Association. The Facebook page is a wealth of knowledge for parents to see what is happening and changing in school lunches. From sharing links to the latest news and developments to offering parents a chance to win a small prize by sharing photos of their child’s homemade or school lunch, Tray Talk keeps parents up to date on successes and challenges of providing healthy meals to students.
I can only imagine the challenges there are when it comes to feeding 30 million children. I only feed three on a daily basis and I encounter challenges. That is why it is so important for parents to get involved and stay up to date.
This week, share your child’s school lunch on social media using the #NSLW hashtag. Check out all the school lunches that have already been shared.
What are your thoughts on school lunches?
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Growing up, my school lunches were hideous. They were usually weird octagonal pizzas with corn. I’m glad they’re improving.
Robin Masshole mommy says
My kids usually buy lunch, but that’s only because I’m really lazy LOL. I love seeing the fancy things other people make, though.
Pam says
These look much healthier and tastier than the school lunches I ate as a child. I remember that we had fish every Friday.
Catherine S says
We never ate school lunches my mom always packed ours. I did the same for my son the two years he was in public school. The ones pictured don’t look too bad.
Meagan says
I used to love bringing lunch from home – I hated school lunch. However, those lunches look so much better than when I was a kid!
Liz Mays says
The ones when I was in school were probably pretty unhealthy too. It’s nice to see some positive changes happening there.
Betsy Segars says
It’s crazy to think about how many children are depending ton the schools to feed them each day. I have a family member who works for the school department that takes care of lunches and you’d be surprised how much politics goes into feeding kids everyday.
Carissa Pelletier says
I know it’s not perfect, but I can see a lot of improvement from the lunches when I was a kid. They’d regularly serve hot dogs with butter spread on the buns – something I couldn’t even stomach these days! I’m grateful for those working to improve this important program.
Eliza Ferree says
I’ll never forget green hot dogs. I’ve been to my kids’ schools for lunch and they have definitely improved over the past 20 years.Hopefully they continue to improve.
Liz Mays says
I usually helped the kids pack their own lunches. A lot of school seem to be making healthier choices for their school lunches.
Tonya says
Some of the lunches are so creative! If my kids were still in school, I’d be all over the bento boxes. What a fun way to get kids to eat a healthy lunch. I agree that lunch is so important not only to give our kids the fuel they need to get through the day, but also to help establish healthy eating habits.
Jody @ Mommy Moment says
I love packing my girls lunches, they love bento style lunches. I am glad they like a wide selection of foods and choose healthy options.
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
I pack lunches daily for my kiddos. (There are rare occasions where they ask for a tray.) I have been pleasantly surprised with some of the variety cafeterias are giving the students these days.
Michele says
I don’t know whether it is the number of years since I had to eat a school lunch–but I really don’t remember them at all! I think maybe I brought lunch with me or went out to eat in town in high school at least with friends! I do remember Kennedy and the school lunch program in 1962-I was 12!
jamie says
We pack our lunches most of the time too, but I do let my kids get lunch at school if there is something special they want to eat.
Kristi says
My frustration with school lunches is that everything is soooo processed. Nothing is really cooked anymore. Even the eating utensils… plastic. Such a waste, every single day.
Nicole Escat says
What a great idea, I know I will be in a situation that I need to pack lunch for my son. I could use this in the future.
Jeanine says
I make my kiddos lunches every night (and sandwiches or whatever main part of their meal in the morning) all 5 of them. Our schools don’t have hot lunches etc, and if so they are like $50 a month per kid, so I would go broke! I love making them so I know what they are eating, as all lunches are litterless and everything comes home so I can see what they aren’t as well!
Allison says
I’ve never heard of this before, but absolutely love the idea! My son eats lunch at school everyday and I KNOW he avoids the kale salads that they like to serve, but it’s so important to raise awareness about healthy lunches – and make it fun for kids!
Jennifer H says
What a neat campaign! My husband works at a Title I school where they provide free breakfast and lunch options. I’m glad the school system is able to help out families in need.
Michelle F. says
My daughter is not in school yet but I remember how bad they were when I was in school.
Chrystal | YUM eating says
Our school lunches were pretty gross when I was a kid. Things seem to be a lot different now, at least at our local school. They offer a wide variety of healthy options now.
Raijean says
I forgot all about this week, I’ll have to post a pic. My son hates school lunches so I have to make his. This would be a good time to display how we do lunches.
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
I had no idea bout National School Lunch week! My kids are gluten-free so have always brought lunch from home. I only had hot lunch growing up which I liked (except for sauerkraut which smelled horrible and I never actually tasted)!
Shell says
Two of my boys buy school lunch a few times a week, while my third only ever packs. It just depends on that day’s menu!
Jasmine says
I don’t normally pack my kids lunch every day but these ideas are great for when I do.
Ann Bacciaglia says
The school my kids went to did not have a lunch program. They always had to bring lunches from home. I am glad there are healthy lunch programs in place.
Marcie W. says
I feel school lunches have really come a long way from when I was a kid. There are so many regulations that need to be followed now and serving healthier food is a priority.
JanetGoingCrazy says
This makes me think that I need to go eat lunch with my boy this week!
Rosey says
It is important for parents to get involved. And I love that you’ve shown the other perspective. It probably is not easy at all to feed so many every day, but hurrah that they do.
Ellen ThatChicMom says
At our school each family must work one shift a month so I see school lunches often enough to know our cafeteria manager really cares and she makes lunches the kids like. I did not have great lunches as a kid but at our school she makes lots of it from scratch which is awesome for our kids.
Valerie Remy-Milora says
I’ve made lunches for my girls for 14 years now. I know feeding so may kids is a massive challenge but I’ve heard from friends that schools are making big strides. This is a great campaign.
maria s. says
School lunch has definitely come a long way since I was a kid. I think it’s great that improvements have been made and they really need to continue.