**CALL FOR ACTION**
Please join us TOMORROW (Tuesday, April 7th) morning at 7:15 to meet with BPS (at 8 AM) about the current state of BPS school lunches… We need support!
Where: The Curley Upper School Guidance Office (Sue Trotz office)
Some of you may know that due to budgetary issues within the Food and Nutrition Department, BPS “streamlined” the lunch menus for several schools as of Thursday, April 1st. Essentially providing more calorie dense and nutritive poor foods, which perpetuate food injustice by reducing the quality of food for the neediest students. We must find another solution.
BPS claims the change is needed to cut costs and to ensure that all schools get equal/similar food. Reducing our children’s nutritional intake is not the answer.
As parents we all want food equity to ensure that every child across the city has equal access to nutritious, appetizing food. But instead of improving the school lunches for all students, under this plan every child will be served cheaper, less nutritious food. We cannot accept this solution.
Sure, kids may like burgers, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and pizza, but is that what we should be teaching them is a healthy entrée? Multiple studies indicate a strong relationship between diet and concentration, energy and physical health and overall well being. Our children deserve the best we can give them. This is not the best we can give them.
For more information and details see recent press regarding the changes see the recent press on this topic:
“Plan to curb school meal options draws fire,” Boston Globe, 3/16/15
“Under claims of equity, Boston plans to cut school meal options,” WBUR 3/18/15. See segment “BPS Proposes School Lunch Cutbacks, Draws Parent and Nutritionist. . .”
“Boston Plan School Menu Change” NECN 3/23/15
See parent testimony presented to the District’s Health and Wellness Council about the changes.
Most importantly, what can you do?
1. Curley parent Ann Malone has started a petition on change.org. “Don’t Harm Our Kids: Stop Unhealthy Changes to Boston School Meals!” Please fill it out!
2. On Thursday, April 2nd several parents and students protested these changes on Centre St in front of the Curley. Thank you Curley Community!!!
3. Most importantly, members from BPS Food and Nutrition Services Department will be attending part of the Curley’s Health and Wellness meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, April 7th), they will be there at 8:00AM, we need parents there to show that we need healthy, tasty food for ALL students in BPS. The meeting takes place in the Upper School Guidance Office (Sue Trotz’s office)
4. In addition, a group of Curley parents and parents from other schools are working on this issue. They aim to work with the BPS, policy makers, politicians, and other parents on the Citywide Parent Council to actively change this policy. Please email kathleenfitch@hotmail.com if you are interested in joining.
