Some school districts are offering healthier alternatives to the proverbial mystery meat that characterizesd too many school lunches, according to the results of an annual survey by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, released this month.
Yet fewer than half the 22 districts analyzed earned a grade of B or better on what is billed as the National School Lunch Report Card. “Despite the ever-worsening childhood-obesity epidemic, [the] PCRM review shows that many menus are still packed with such unhealthy options as foot-long hot dogs and ‘Colossal Burgers’ and are short on nutritious vegetarian dishes,” according to a statement from the committee.
The National School Lunch Report Card is available from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
The Pinellas County, Fla., district was the only one to receive an A grade, while the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C.; Fairfax County, Va.; and San Diego Unified districts each earned an A-minus. The best lunches, according to the report, include a variety of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
