Slime? Food? Eh...

As a teacher, I get to experience something on a regular basis that many people haven't experienced in many years. It's something that very important people have been thinking about a lot lately. But something that you haven't had for a long time.

School food.

Now, I'll admit it here once and for all. I like some of the food our chef gives us. At our school we are lucky enough to have a chef cooking for us, and not some grumpy person with a hairnet who hates kids. There are the chicken fajitas. Those are good. And he makes this veggie lo mien that is tasty. Oh, and the soups...yummy. But, by and large, I know that the food I eat here every day is not healthy. And, isn't that the goal of these important people who keep talking about school food? To give our kids healthy food?

In my community, many of the students are on free or reduced lunch. For some, the only good meals they get are the lunch and breakfasts that they eat here. I agree with those important people. It's beyond important that they get a good meal here. It's a moral obligation. But, their methods seem...strange.

I've been hearing about this thing called pink slime. And I've been hearing that schools can opt out of getting it. But, in what way is this healthy? Shouldn't we be giving our kids meat that is what we would like to eat at home? When you check out the National School Lunch Program guidelines...well...they sound good. But, schools have to charge particular prices for their lunches. Also, let's look at what sorts of food schools can get for free. Chicken nuggets. Riblets. Do we even know what meat that is?

I have watched the seasons of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out on a great opportunity to get angry at The Man.

I wish I knew what to say and where to go from here with this rant. But, it's lunch time (and I'm seriously not making that up) and I need to go and eat. So, I'm going to stop thinking about school food for now, and then start again in about 45 minutes.

Hell Yeah

I made fried pickle chips last night for dinner.

Yeah, you can put in orders for the next time you're at my house.

They were awesome.

'nuff said.

I'm outie.