This Is Absurd

My son is in high school. For the most part, we are pleased with his school. Each day a copy of the school announcements are sent to our email so parents aren't totally clueless as to what events or news is pertinent at the school (which this mom definitely appreciates!). I was reading the one sent today and this one made me say "Are you serious??" See what you think:

Other Announcements:
Students are reminded that federal law requires them to have at least three items on their lunch trays. Every day at least five items are offered to choose from. Each item must be selected from a different food group. For instance if you take milk and a sandwich you are required to take one more selection from the salad bar. Many days you will have three items on your tray as you leave the serving window but if you do not, you will need to select enough items to meet the three item requirement. Also, condiments such as ranch dressing, catsup, mustard and pickles do not count as an item.

Ok, so let me get this straight.....if you are serving food that a child doesn't like, they still HAVE to take it. It doesn't say they have to eat it - only that they have to take it. So, these kids HAVE to take food they have no intention of eating, just so they can eat what they want and then throw out the rest. Perfectly good food is going to go to waste because our all-knowing Government (yes, that was sarcasm) says this is a good idea.



I know that this message was sent out due to kids like my son, and I hold nothing against the school for doing it. They are just doing what they are told to do.

Austin is the pickiest eater on the entire planet. Seriously folks, he'd rather starve to death than eat something he doesn't like. He is polite in that he doesn't complain if something is being served and he doesn't like it. He just says something like "No thank you. I'm not hungry". Over the years we have come to know that means "I'd rather have nails driven into my eyeballs than eat that". So I have no doubt that Austin takes one of the 2 entree choices and a bottle of milk, and that's it. He won't eat vegetables (not even as a baby). He hates salad. And only likes fresh fruit - not canned or frozen, and only apple slices and grapes. So my son will be one of the wasters. He will be forced to take something he doesn't like and he will throw it right into the trash.

Is it me? Am I missing something here? Because this seems like one of the most absurd things I've heard in a long time. And let's face it...our government has done some pretty ridiculous things over the years. We have children around the globe starving, and yet our government is forcing children to waste perfectly good food that could be used elsewhere. Yea, I don't get it.