Acknowledging the complaints, L.A. Unified's food services director announced this month that the menu would be revised. Hamburgers will be offered daily, according to The Los Angeles Times. For the full story, click here.
Editor’s Insight: Being one of the nation’s largest school districts, the drama that has played out in Los Angeles demonstrates the challenges that school districts face everywhere in trying to change kids’ eating habits. The Los Angeles school foodservice operation didn’t go into this blindly; they held taste tests and got comments from students before going forward with the menu changes. Nevertheless, the program has been a monumental flop.
Vending and foodservice operators should copy this article and keep it on file whenever and wherever a school system decides to overhaul its meal program to promote health and wellness. Changing kids’ habits requires ongoing nutrition education in the classroom in conjunction with the menu changes. 12-19-11 By Elliot Maras
