Fargo, West Fargo Public School Lunch Programs

Last article, I wrote about concerns of the national school lunch program, as well as some healthy innovations popping up in various parts of our country. The overall concern is that school lunch menus are high in cholesterol and saturated fat and low in whole grain, fresh fruit and vegetables. The innovations include organic and local foods, offering vegan options, non-dairy milks, gardens on site, and teaching about the importance of healthy eating. This month’s review discusses the Fargo and West Fargo public school lunch programs in terms of vegan offerings.

I had good discussions with the directors of food services of Fargo and West Fargo public schools, and I also reviewed their menus online as well as the Moorhead public school menus. I wasn’t able to connect with the director of food service for Moorhead public schools. All of the public schools offer vegetarian entrees. A vegetarian student would find options for breakfast (muffins, cold cereal and milk, French toast) as well as for lunch (cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, PBJ sandwich). Vegetarian options may not be necessarily healthy, as they can be high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

As far as I could tell, there isn’t anything available for breakfast that a vegan student could eat. All public schools offer a salad bar, even the elementary grades, so that is one item that a vegan student could eat. Parents or students would need to inquire about the ingredients to see if the salad dressings are vegan (Ranch is not vegan, but the French dressing served in all schools, and the vinaigrette dressing served in the junior and senior high schools may be vegan). Three different items need to be purchased to participate in the school lunch program, and there are fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as cooked vegetables (no butter added). Soy milk and other non-dairy milks aren’t available; juice is. The bread is most likely not vegan, so the PBJ option wouldn’t work.

While schools are mandated to provide meal accommodations for health problems, such as allergies to gluten, there is no mandate that would accommodate for a vegan diet. Accommodations are made for religion by having several entrees, so that if a student cannot eat pork, beef is also on the menu, or vice-versa.

At this time, a vegan student’s best option will be to eat a healthy breakfast before school and to bring their own lunch most days, alternating with an occasional salad bar. Over the course of 12 years, that’s a lot of packed lunches! Parents should check out http://www.laptoplunches.com and sign up for lunch ideas and earth friendly resources. The company sells bento boxes with insulated carrying cases, utensils and water bottles. The moms who designed these are committed to a mission of “waste less, spend less, eat well.” (Great products and ideas for adults, too.)

Fargo public schools will be offering vegan chili as an entrée this fall, and I am hoping that it will be successful. Change in the lunch programs will be driven largely by numbers, what students are choosing to eat, encouragement from parents, enlightened food service directors, and changes in the national school lunch program.

I encourage parents of vegan students to meet with the director of food services in your child’s school to discuss food options. You should review http://www.HealthySchoolLunches.org and download the “Guide to Healthy School Meals” to share with the food service director. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, http://www.PCRM.com has a Healthy School Lunch Team that is willing to work with your school district by organizing presentations for school boards, PTAs and student groups. All parents, whether vegan or not, should be concerned about the health of their children and the effects of diet on long-term health. Expect to see growing interest in the national school lunch program this fall when Congress will authorize funding. Parents can sign a petition to Congress via the Healthy School Lunches posted above.