Fourth graders spur school food changes

Courtesy of the Daily Herald

Changes are expected next month in the student menu at Avon Center School in Round Lake Beach, IL as a result of a push for healthier food by three girls. Avon fourth-graders Erica Smyth, Jade Walker and Camryn Hickle learned about the menu plans in a meeting they participated in Monday with two Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members, administrators and vendor Preferred Meal Systems Inc. In a recent letter to school officials, the girls said greasy hot dogs and hamburgers are part of the problem with Avon's food. They suggested healthy food options, such as offering fresh produce and whole-grain bread.

Avon Principal Lynn Barkley said action should come on the girls' complaint that students frequently are offered a choice of a hot dog or hamburger. Instead, Barkley said, baked chicken nuggets would be one alternative when a burger or wiener is on the menu. "That is changing in May because of these girls," Barkley said Tuesday. Roughly 475 students attend Avon, which serves kindergarten through fourth grade. About 37 percent of the pupils qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Up to 200 lunches are served depending on the day.

Jade, Erica and Camryn said while they'll be in another building in the next school year, they want the Avon children to have healthier food. "I really want my sister to have good lunches," Jade said. Barkley said Preferred is expected to react to the girls' concerns over the two hot and three cold breakfasts offered during the school week. Reduced-sugar Frosted Flakes and French toast sticks were on this week's breakfast menu. Oatmeal was suggested by the three girls as a morning option. Barkley said a taste test soon may be conducted in teacher Barb Zarras' fourth-grade classroom to gauge if students would be interested in oatmeal.

Camryn, Jade and Erica have stopped eating Avon's food and bring homemade lunches that include fruit, vegetables, whole grain and protein. Preferred has given them free breakfast and lunch tickets in return for providing feedback on the food. "This is a great start in developing a partnership with our meal provider to make sure we are offering our students healthy and tasteful meals," Barkley said.

Steve - I give these girls a lot of credit for stepping up and saying what everyone is afraid to say. Kudos!