On Jan. 17, coincidentally the birthday of Michelle Obama, the Trump administration announced plans to roll back school lunch regulations put in place by the Obama administration and championed by the former First Lady. In doing so, the required servings of fruits and vegetables will be reduced, making American school lunches less healthy.
The new regulations give schools more flexibility to serve what they see fit, often resulting in cheaper and less nutritious options. For example, starchy vegetables such as potatoes can now be served in place of leafy greens. Fruit, which was previously stressed as an integral part of breakfast, is no longer a required piece to the most important meal of the day. Additionally, lunch entrees such as hamburgers and other equally unhealthy options can be purchased a la carte, giving students free rein to purchase additional unhealthy items.
30 million American children participate in the National School Lunch Program, and nearly three out of four of that total are from low-income families. For such families, school lunch is often the only opportunity for their children to receive healthy and nutritious meals, which is now threatened by the Trump administration. Rather than promote healthy lifestyles through nutritious and balanced diets, through these laws, the Trump administration will instead be contributing to rising obesity levels as food-insecure children will have no recourse other than unhealthy lunches.
Connecticut College does not fall under such guidelines, as the rollbacks pertain primarily to schools between kindergarten and twelfth grade. However, habits instilled at a young age can linger and affect students once they make their transition to living on their own and eating at a dining hall like Harris, which operates on self-serve meal plans. While Harris may offer a variety of healthy options, the onus relies on the decision-making of students. While secondary school prepares future college students for the rigorous work posed by the nation’s higher education, it also must act as a tool to prepare its graduates to lead a balanced overall lifestyle.
While the scope is large, as tens of millions of children across the country are affected by these laws, local coalitions act directly to counter the rollbacks. Brigaid, launched in 2016, is an organization erected in New London that works to offer healthy meals to students in the New London School District. Unlike the fast-food style meals that are often served in public schools, the organization, ran by former world-class chef Dan Guisti, brings trained chefs and fresh ingredients into school kitchens to provide daily meals for students. Since its start in New London, Brigaid has been adopted by the nation’s largest public school network, working with schools in the Bronx and spreading its influence throughout New York City and the rest of the nation.
Giusti denounced the recent rollbacks administered by the Trump administration in a recent post on Instagram. He first acknowledged the plight faced by many schools, agreeing that students often throw away fruits and vegetables. However, Giusti argues that with Brigaid working in their kitchens, American secondary schools can prepare the fruits and vegetables in a way that makes them appealing to their students. The chef concluded his post saying, “We need to set school districts up for success to be able to deliver the most delicious and nutritious meals possible to their students… not just lower the standard to make it easier.” As Brigaid is adopted in more districts locally and nation-wide, the organization will continue to provide healthy options to America’s students while countering the recent rollbacks backed by the Trump administration. •
