So as the youngest person in the office, I’m the closest removed from the days of public school lunch. I, like so many others, was bombarded with choices during lunch.

The scary part was that it was not a matter of economics. A tray of pizza and fries was priced much higher than the healthier alternatives. I regularly enjoyed my choice of entrée, soup, tatertots, fruit, dessert and milk for far below what my peers paid for deep fried and over processed food.

In today’s Washington Post, Jane Black wrote and article about strides that have been made in certain Kentucky public schools, the 7^th fattest state in the nation, inside school cafeterias. The article was written in favor of more stringent national policies to curb the childhood obesity epidemic.

Ginger Gray of Kenton County, KY started with the basics. She replaced fried potato chips with their healthier baked alternatives. She then set her sights on full calorie sodas and fruit drinks with little to no nutritional value (think Hawaiian Punch).

Black continues by explaining that one of the greatest fears for public schools is the loss of revenue. However, Gray  found that her revenues were actually rising, without having to raise prices, to the tune of 61%. When presented with healthier options, more students actually participated in the school lunch program.

Food policy has come to the forefront of national attention with the horrifying childhood obesity statistics as well as the most recent bill to change healthcare. We hope that our Campus Kitchens can continue to be a strong force in their communities and provide healthy meals whether new legislation passes or not.

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