Speak Up Carmel!

On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Indianapolis Star reported a story about changes to school lunch. The story referenced the new proposed changes to the regulations that allow what schools may sell as extra or “ala carte” foods. These proposed changes would take effect in the 2014-2015 school year.

Under the new regulations, several of our current ala carte options would no longer be for sale. These items would include: Welches Fruit Snacks, some of the chips, including Cheetos, our current cookie offerings, and the large chocolate milk.

Although we are very concerned and work earnestly to provide the most nutritional lunch to our students, we realize that we have a very wide range of nutritional needs among our student body. By regulating ala carte choices to calorie levels of under 200 calories, we are limiting the options for some of our students and athletes to buy items at lunch that will help fuel them for their afternoon activities.

What can you do?

Write letters! The Department of Agriculture is actively looking for feedback on these issues before they make their final ruling.

Be specific in your concerns and give examples. Maybe you are a swimmer and need a good recovery drink after practice in the morning. What would you use if you didn’t have the large chocolate milk? How would you reach your recommended calorie intake every day? How many ala carte snacks would you have to buy to help reach calorie goals? What would that cost be to you?

Question the people making the recommendations. Do they eat like this?

Do you need a specific low sodium diet? Why is it being imposed on you?

What will you do if you can’t get the snack choices you want at school?

This is your chance to use your voice to help make a change that affects you!

Letters can be submitted two ways. The preferred method is to go to HYPERLINK “http://www.regulations.gov” www.regulations.gov and search FNS-2011-0019. On the right hand side of the screen there is a blue box that says “Comment Now”. Click and fill out the form or upload your Word Document.

If you would like to mail them, they need to be addressed to:

Julie Brewer, Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch

Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Services

PO Box 66874

Saint Louis, MO 63166

I will be happy to collect letters in the main cafeteria for a group mailing. Please give letters to cashiers at any cafeteria.