Are We Really Feeding Our Kids THIS?

Let me take care of business and emphatically state that my comments below are my own and not indicative of how my company, or anyone who works at my company, feels. These are solely my opinions.

This is the lunch tray actually served to students at Northside High School. An understandably upset mother posted this on Facebook and the image landed in my news feed.

I've been complaining about the quality of school lunches in Tuscaloosa for a while now and sadly, this picture confirms my suspicions that County School officials aren't listening. I've talked to many who work in our lunchrooms who say this isn't what they signed up for. Cafeteria workers are angry, frustrated and helpless to serve anything better.

I researched the calories in the tray offered above. One banana is roughly 130 calories, each of the four cucumber slices are about 8 calories each and each chicken nugget will set you back 59 calories per nug.

The total calories consumed in the lunch tray above equals 432 calories, well shy of the 2,200 daily caloric intake required for SEDENTARY teenagers.

My lunch doesn't look like this. Does yours?

How have we as parents allowed officials to get away with serving this JOKE to our children and paying them for the privilege?

We need to accept our own responsibility for allowing officials too much rope and start reining them back in.

UPDATE: Tuscaloosa County School officials responded and submitted these pictures from lunchrooms within the school system.

Donette Worthy, Tuscaloosa County Director of Child Nutrition insisted changes in lunchroom fare are afoot. 'Some new menu items include Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Chili Mac, Chicken Parmesan w/ Noodles, Chicken Tender Wrap, Chicken Tenders & Waffles as well as Fresh Veggie Dippers,' Worthy posted on my Facebook page. 'We are working on updating all recipes that need to be updated as well as teaching our staff to use the proper spices to help in taste,' she said.

I reached out to one CNP worker and asked her opinion about the pictures posted by Worthy and other school employees. Her only comment was, 'Today must have been a good day'.

Additionally, I asked students from different area schools who also disputed the Rockwell-esque pictures that suggest school lunches have been unfairly targeted. Their comments ranged from, 'What happened to the baggies?' to 'Not even close', 'Our corn has more liquid' and finally, 'Where's the Unicorn?'

Collectively, all agreed that the now-controversial chicken nugget/banana/cucumber picture was a better representation of daily lunch trays, but Superintendent Liz Swinford suggests we not limit ourselves by just listening to the students. I also encourage you to do your own homework and decide for yourself.

The Tuscaloosa County School System said it's working to correct the problem. I know that seeds sown today take time to bear fruit so we must be patient. We also must hold those we entrust with our children accountable.

Lunches should look appealing everyday.