"First lady responds to school meal critics"

[applegrove]

First lady responds to school meal critics

MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press

http://www.wtop.com/289/3629717/First-lady-set-to-respond-to-school-meal-critics

"SNIP.......................



WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Michelle Obama is striking back at House Republicans who are trying to weaken healthier school meal standards, saying any effort to roll back the guidelines is "unacceptable."

The rules set by Congress and the administration over the last several years require more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the lunch line and set limits on sodium, sugar and fat. The first lady met Tuesday with school nutrition officials who said the guidelines are working in their schools.

The event was an unusual move for the first lady, who has largely stayed away from policy fights since she lobbied for congressional passage of a child nutrition law in 2010.

"The last thing we can afford to do right now is play politics with our kids' health," Mrs. Obama told participants.




......................SNIP"

[Cartoonist]

1. Politics?

"The last thing we can afford to do right now is play politics with our kids' health," Mrs. Obama told participants.

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How about racism? There's a bumper sticker out there that says: Obama, hands off my kid's lunch bag!
Even when they're trying to improve our kids' health, the racists can't stop themselves.

[Shandris]

2. Umm...I don't see where the racist part fits in.

Did you leave part of the bumper sticker out for politeness or something?

[Cartoonist]

3. I thought it was obvious

What possible reason could they have to oppose healthy lunches? If it had been Laura Bush, she would have been hailed as a modern Florence Nightingale, but keep those black hands off my plate.

[Shandris]

5. I read it as a 'government interference' thing. I wouldn't have thought of the other at all.

Having spent far too much of my life in the presence (and mindset) of right-wingers, that was the first thing that jumped out. I really think you're reaching with the racist thing, but I do fully admit I could be wrong about it. A 'just my experience'-type deal.

[yeoman6987]

6. Two things

One thing they need to figure out is why the kids are dumping their trays of uneaten food in the garbage (per Diane Swayer and Brian Williams - I know I watch both and practically the same show...lol). Two, when they do eat the food, it is not enough for the kids and need seconds especially if they play sports. Some reasonable changes are needed to keep the kids in sports from starving on the field. My friends send a bunch of granola bars and other snacks to eat mid afternoon to ensure enough energy for practice. Otherwise a great program.

[winter is coming]

4. You know who I haven't heard complaining about the new lunches? Kids.

My middle schooler still prefers home lunch, but says that school lunches look "less gross" and that kids are complaining a lot less about the food.

[yeoman6987]

7. Obviously it depends on the school

Is your school child getting enough to eat? Some are not.

[winter is coming]

8. Yes, there's enough to eat. n/t