I'm Not One to Keep My Mouth Shut

So, here in Chicago, there is a bit of hullabaloo surrounding a school in the city telling parents that they are no longer allowed to pack and send lunches for their children.  The thinking behind this being that the schools supposedly know what is better for the kids than the parents do.  That, and they feel that children will be getting a more nutritious lunch from the school.  The article cites that it is a "Pop versus Milk" thing.  But if that were actually the case, why not just ban pop?  Why not take out the pop machines and only sell things like milk/juice/lemonade  or water.

What makes anyone think that a blanket decision encompassing all children is the best idea?  Additionally, since when are cafeteria lunches healthy??

What does the average kid eat in their lunch if packed from home?

Sandwich of some kind
Fruit
Snack of Some kind- bag o'chips, cookies etc
Juice box or can of pop

What would they get in a cafeteria?

Processed and preservative laden meat or pizza
"Fruit" swimming in sugar laden syrup
Pudding or some other form of dessert
Milk

Personally for me, I would think the healthier option would continue to be whatever is made at home.  I think it is awfully forward of any school to be deciding they know what is better for a child than a parent does.  And quite honestly, what business is it of any school to tell a parent how or what they should be feeding their kids?  I think the entire idea of this is ludicrous.

I don't have any kids in schools at the moment, but I would assume that most parents would be outraged if someone came along and told them that they no longer had control over what was being fed to their children.  For me, it isn't even the issue of cafeteria lunches costing roughly $2 a day- though I understand that argument as well.  For me personally, and I'm quite certain for a large conglomerate of my friends with children, the issue would be someone else telling me how to parent or what they think is right for my child.

Am I over reacting on this one?  What would you do if your kids came home with a letter tomorrow saying that the school was now going to decide for you, what your child is going to eat every day?

If you would like to read the full article, you can find it here