Question

School lunches.  Don’t misunderstand me - I am very grateful that our schools continuedto provide lunches during the COVID19 shutdown.School lunches. Don’t misunderstand me - I am very grateful that our schools continuedto provide lunches during the COVID19 shutdown. I realize that many families depend on the school meals to feed their kids. Especially now. But, now that I had an opportunity to actually see what the school lunch is - I am disappointed. Both of my kids refused to buy lunches at school ever since we moved to IL (from PA to MI, to here). I thought they were just picky and packed everyday. But now that I tasted the main meal - I can see why. The snacks are fine. It’s the pizza/chicken/ham etc. that i am concerned with. With a fairly high taxes, I thought schools would be able to get a lunch supplier that can provide quality food. In Michigan elementary school kids had Jets pizza, cinnamon sticks, beef burger, white chicken strips, thick white turkey sandwiches. When they couldn’t finish lunch - they often brought leftovers home and gladly ate afterwards. So again, I am not trying to sound picky, I am just wondering - why is the quality of lunch here what it is? Is it the state wide supplier? Is there anything that can be done about it? The lunch cost in PA and MI was comparable, and I lived in very comparable neighborhoods. I am sorry if I am offending anyone.  

Answer 1

Unfortunately quality and nutrition aren't the most important things for the lunch program. Doing it the cheapest way possible while still barely fitting into the nutritional guidelines is how it goes here

Comments

@tennant I agree with you!  

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@tennant In many states. We have also lived in GA and OH and neither value quality. They only do the minimum & cheapest to meet the food guidelines. You are exactly right!  

Answer 2

I think the lunches they are providing at different than what they’re offered at school. But we haven’t utilized the food offerings since they’ve closed schools

Comments

@radbun I agree. My kids have hot lunch at school quite a lot, and we have had some of the lunches the schools are providing now. Hot lunch is not the same as what the pick up lunches are. That said, I am thankful for the extra food with all my kids are eating these days!  

Answer 3

In Illinois I believe it’s if you meet the nutritional value only, quality is whole different story. I am still perplexed by this as you should see what passes as nutritional. A lot of schools out source to many different companies which are terrible (ie Aramark, Sodexo)

Answer 4

My kids have complained about the lunches in the elementary and junior high for the past few years.  

Answer 5

Could also be a difference in timing between when the government made healthier mandates for school lunches. It might not necessarily be location specific. ‍♀️

Answer 6

Following because I’m curious - my daughter purchases hot lunch at school maybe 1x per week just to mix it up. She said she likes it, but picks & chooses her “hot lunch” day based on the menu.  

Answer 7

Illinois is not going to ever get you jets pizza or that quality for the school lunch

Comments

@decalescence they offer Jets pizza every week in 204

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Right every Friday! My kids begged to buy that day every week

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@advertise10 it’s my sons favorite day lol

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@decalescence my daughter was so upset because 204 switched Friday pizza day to Jet's pizza. She now refuses to eat lunch that day.  

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Yes! Friday Jet’s is a huge hit with my kids!  

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@advertise10 wow I have never seen anything lik that lower than hs

Answer 8

My kids always complained about how bad hot lunch was. Then I saw it for myself on a day basis in the school this year. There are lots of things I would have never eaten. Green hot dogs. eww! We did have jets pizza every Friday though! That was great! (And very popular). I think the outsourced companies keep the nutrition content in mind, but skimp on quality. I’m not sure if it’s funding or something else but I would have brought my own lunch too!  

Answer 9

School food has always been horrible and we’ve been here for 20yrs

Answer 10

One of the district 204 elementary schools before the shut down had jets pizza every Friday ‍♀️

Answer 11

The taxes are high to pay for Illinois' debt. Our education system isn't going to get high tier food. I have lived in Illinois my entire life, the lunches have always been shit unfortunately.  

Answer 12

Illinois ‼️ I’ve taught here for 20 years. they go by the guidelines. can be a vegetable. they technically follow the rules but it’s horrible. Most of my students bring a lunch and I teach in a large elementary school in Plainfield (same lunch provider).  

Answer 13

I have heard the same thing from people in varying school districts . compared to other states our lunches here are poor on quality. I would love to know the reason as well ! My guess is funding, as we know all in all Illinois is not on top in that department compared to other states budgets‍♀️

Answer 14

Who provides your kids lunches? What company?  

Answer 15

District 203 sent out a survey I believe in December or January asking for parent feedback regarding the current lunch supplier, Aramark, because the contract was up soon. It has been explained to me that due to the size of our district there is only about 3 possible suppliers that could handle an account as big as 203.  

Comments

@communistic Aramark has the capacity to provide good food, so does Sodexo. Both companies (at different times) ran the cafeteria where I worked. Generally they started off really good, got shoddy in the middle, and got good again when the contract was up for renewal.  

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I was told that the bigger issue for 203 is that the elementary schools don't have kitchens to prepare the food. So they are limited to suppliers that can bring the food already prepared.  

Answer 16

Our elementary school in 204 had jets every Friday. My kids would get hot lunch on Fridays and loved it

Answer 17

Wow, that got heated quickly  

Comments

@voight it’s ridiculous  

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@decomposition It really is. the topic is completely legit and its a good time to discuss it.  

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@voight Right! Everything doesn’t need to be taken as rude. Let’s just have an adult discussion about it. Lordy

Answer 18

I guess my question is; hopefully they receive the $600/weekly which is $2400/monthly plus UI. It costs less than $2 per kid to make a lunch and send it to school. Free is free, do not bite the hand that feeds you.  

Comments

@pennell8908 Avery it wasn’t about free now. It was that now it is the same that it’s during the full school year - and we do pay for them then.  

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@octa9 oh, the lunches have been horrible since 2015

Answer 19

Same as what I had growing up in another state, just school lunch I think .  

Answer 20

I agree! I saw the free lunch for the first time last week and it was the most processed looking meat I’ve ever seen.  

Answer 21

Was your school in MI part of the National School Lunch Program? That dictates most of the options more than cost.  

Answer 22

welcome to Illinois! No, you're not picky for caring what your kids eat. and anyone who says you're picky is most likely a keyboard warrior. My son hasn't had hot lunch ever in IL. It looks gross. In PA it looked much better. I was making him creative lunches for a while, but now, he makes his own. Good luck! Pinterest has some good ideas!  

Answer 23

When we were in 204 schools, we were disappointed that every meal was some bastardization of pizza. It was pizza, or cheese breadsticks and marinara, or a calzone or something. Yes, it might be organic but still few options I felt good feeding my son. He even got sick of it after a month and wanted me to pack his lunch. Hard paying so much taxes and getting so little.  

Comments

@denadenae6779 it’s not just it’s a pizza - it’s that it’s a pizza that doesn’t even taste like pizza. In my prior states I packed lunches 3 times a week and let them buy twice - that way if the food was not so nutritious- it was not an everyday thing. But the taste here.  

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@octa9 I’m with you girl. We homeschool now. So.  

Answer 24

I've worked in a few schools, and most places I get the school lunch. Theres usually something pretty decent. I think its definitely tasting worse now since you have to pick it up and prepare. I've been with schools that use Aramark, Sodexo, and one other I can't remember. Since Michelle Obama pushed through her initiative, school lunches changed drastically and most companies taste the same. It's just what they're allowed to serve. But most of it isn't too bad. MS and HS definitely get more options.  

Answer 25

I’m skeptical to think that this is the normal lunch that they would get when school is in session we picked it up once and it was a so-called ham sandwich with a cheese stick that was expired and something else that was out of date even though we could really use those meals we’re choosing not to pick them up anymore

Answer 26

I agree, I usually packed lunches.  

Answer 27

We’re not in Naperville schools but my nieces are and they refuse to eat lunch there.  

Answer 28

What school district were you in in Michigan? My kids went to school for 10+ years in Michigan (Utica)and the school lunches are SO much better in 203.  

Answer 29

I think they serve jets pizza on fridays at 204. My daughter always begs for hotlunch. I try packing her sandwiches to save and she is one unhappy camper everytime she eats my turkey cheese sandwich. But then again my daughter is not picky.  

Answer 30

I’m hoping the school lunches when actually in the building are better. I ended up eating the free ones I picked up one time and didn’t bother picking it up again because my kids wouldn’t touch them with a 10 ft pole. And I don’t blame them because it was disgusting. The meat was soooo processed; made McDonalds look fresh.  

Comments

@shah159 Collins Weidner I thought they only provided free lunches to those who qualified

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@pennell8908 Avery I’m in Oswego 308. I picked up meals for my kids and the kids wouldn’t eat them, so I ate them so they wouldn’t go to waste. What were you implying for your comment?  

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@shah159 Collins Weidner usually lunches are only free to people who cannot afford to feed their kids

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@pennell8908 Avery again what about my comment implied my family doesn’t have a hardship? And that I cannot have other food in my house because we get a free lunch?  

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@shah159 Collins Weidner I stated what the FREE lunch is used for. If you do not need it then do not take it. I guess you are not receiving the $600/weekly payment plus UI? The whole spirit of a free lunch for kids that parents have $0.  

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@pennell8908 Avery if you read the email sent out recently. it’s any kid under the age of 18, no matter what their family financial situation is. And the example states. if your child is 2 yes old, they can get a meal. So no, it’s not just those who need to qualify!  

Answer 31

My kid goes to 204 and on Friday it's pizza and Wednesday it's pancake. She likes to eat at school but her options are not healthy! May be it's free lunch not sure, but agree food is not up to the mark.  

Comments

@egotist the lunch are not free, only for people who cannot afford to feed their kids. the lunch is $2. 25 per day

Answer 32

204 has Jets pizza on Friday’s and I have heard it is not the normal lunch offerings being dropped off now. Our taxes has less to with it than the amount the state of Illinois is not paying our school district the required amount. It’s staggering what they owe us for schools, meals, and transportation. We get many IOU’s in the lieu of funds. Our taxes come in and keep the district going, Springfield isn’t holding up its constitutional premise of being the primary support for schools here.  

Answer 33

We live in New Lenox ( work in Naperville ) our school lunches suck too lol  

Answer 34

I work in the lunchroom at our school. The lunches, for the most part, look disgusting. Much of what is served is thrown straight into the trash. We need to do better. What good is offering food with the claim that “it might be the only meal a child eats that day” if it goes in the garbage?  

Answer 35

Aramark and Sodexo have the market on school lunches in this area. They are both awful and go off federal guidelines on how much of each category to include in the lunches. It’s just gross, I used to cook it.  

Answer 36

Maybe it’s just me but I don’t see an issue. They usually have a veggie or fruit, snack that’s healthy, main that’s ok. It’s lunch.  

Answer 37

My son complained about the school lunch and once I forgot to pack and he ate school lunch and always came home sick. Says the milk is always expired, the hot dogs are funny colors and the pizza is disgusting. He’s said only one day of the week has a good lunch day. I pack lunch as I don’t trust it. I’ve also been in the lunch room to see it and I wouldn’t even eat it not sure the dog would either which is sad because we pay a lot in taxes and our kids deserve better!  

Answer 38

I don’t have school age kids but I have heard these complaints for years. Maybe the schools should offer a food tasting at their beginning of the year open house.