Seems like the new federal rules for healthier school lunches are getting mixed grades. Younger kids (elementary age) are accepting the greener and leaner changes to their school menu, but the high school students are having none of it and even complaining about the lack of chicken nuggets in the hot lunch aisle.
Lunch school lines require the kiddos to choose a fruit or vegetable from the new abundance of garden fresh options that are new under the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition standards. In addition to the produce add-on the new standards are capping calories too.
Part of encouraging a healthy lifestyle is about making the correct choices and while some children need a nudge to do this, as you get older it is important that healthy choices are being made because they want to make them and not because they are being forced. It is kind of like how I don’t enjoy playing the piano because my parents made me take lessons. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink!
Take a look at the biggest update to school eating guidelines in 15 years:
With the big push to eat more greens I found the perfect breakfast for us: Green Tea Pancakes from Just Jenn Recipes. The burst of matcha powder (aka powdered green tea) make a unique and colorful breakfast that Dr. Seuss would be proud to eat.
Click photo for recipe!
What do you think about the new school lunch requirements? Do you want to eat some green pancakes?
Feature photo via
Green tea pancakes? Um, yum.
I know. Insane deliciousness from my fav tea! 🙂