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During my lunch hour I followed along with the #AskUSDA discussion about changes to the school lunch program. Below are the questions that were asked and the responses. The USDA did a lot of skirting the issue, but I do feel that it allowed there to be more open dialogue between community members and parents, while the USDA stuck to their script. Be sure to check our #AskUSDA or #SchoolFoodsRules to see all the tweets, and don't forget that Sensible School Lunches is a great place to continue on the conversation.
Q1 #AskUSDA RT @cafoodpolicy: Students want appealing food. How can USDA help SFAs design a student driven menu?#SchoolFoodsRuleA1 Thornton: They should involve students when planning menues! It can be healthy and student friendly at the same time. #AskUSDAA1 Thornton: Students can be involved in taste tests, both in the cafeteria and in the classroom. #AskUSDA A1 Thornton: Parents may offer some of the healthier choices at home after viewing school menus on the district websites.#AskUSDA
@katpinke@steinworld @USDA What if parents can't afford healthier choices at home or don't know? What's the outreach?
#ASKUSDA
@MrsZookeeper#AskUSDA aren't school lunches to help the poor? What abt those kids whose moms aren't able to provide that healthy food after school?
Q2 RT @blammo33: What has been the general response from schools about the new regulations? #AskUSDA
@TaylarFurness#schoolfoodsrule is horrible. I'm an athlete and there is definitely not enough choices 4 me to make up for the calories I burn in practice
A2 Thornton: At 1st there was concern & anxiety, now that school is underway, we're hearing lots of excitement & positive feedback!
#AskUSDA
@TroyHadrick#ASKUSDA It seems that the push for more fruits/veggies has been at the expense of protein. Why not always be encouraging balanced diet?
@radunn11What do you think about all the food that is getting thrown away because kids refuse to eat it? Did you consider this?
#AskUSDA
@MrsZookeeper#AskUSDA my 11 y/o is starved when I pick him up from school. I meet him with a banana. I don't mind feeding him right after school but...
Q3 RT @crystalcattle @ObesityCampaign What are ideas you have to reduce childhood obesity with non-food solutions? #ASKUSDA#SCHOOLFOODSRULE
@USDAA3 Thornton: We need to recognize importance of phys activity in addition to recognizing proper portion sizes of foods we consume.
#AskUSDA @katpinke@ObesityCampaign I love this blog post that addresses non-food solutions to
#obesity http://ow.ly/dk2rs #ASKUSDA
@WMahannah#schoolfoodsrule What about active kids who aren't obese and who say the new portions aren't enough? Those out for sports have concerns
@USDAQ4 RT @radunn11: What do you think about all the food that is getting thrown away because kids refuse to eat it? #AskUSDA
@USDAA4 Thornton: In the responses we've had from schools thus far, they really have not seen an increase in foods being thrown away.
#AskUSDA
@StacyHadrickA4: It's going to b harder and harder where we live to get good fresh fruits & Veg. My kids said the grapes yesterday were bad
#askusda
@KaylaDePauwKids go home and splurge on junk food because they don't like anything the school is serving. This is making us less healthy.
#askusda
@boutdrz@jamielmay @KaylaPauW no, they splurge on crap because parents keep crap available. DON"T BRING IT INTO YOUR HOME.
#AskUSDA @USDAQ5 @thefoodtrust Does "healthier" mean only more fruits, vegs & whole grains? What about protein & dairy? #ASKUSDA#schoofoodsrule
@USDAA5 Thornton: Healthier means eating a well balanced meal w/ proper portion sizes of all types of foods including protein & dairy.
#ASkUSDA
@diana_prichardProtein is shown to curb hunger and keep people full longer. Skimpy protein portions will contribute to hunger and poor focus.
#AskUSDA @USDAQ6 RT @mrszookeeper #AskUSDA 13 y/o has football after school. He's 5'9", 114 lbs. he NEEDS more than 2-3 oz of protein to keep him fueled
@USDAA6 Thornton: School meals designed to meet a portion of kids' needs. Parents may send add'l healthy snax to meet athlete needs.
#AskUSDA
@Megan__Whitson@USDA So you're saying that athletes have to provide their own snacks, but the School can't provide it?
#AskUSDA
@cassphillips11@USDA Seriously? Isn' t the school lunch supposed to meet the needs of ALL students?
@diana_prichard@USDA What about the kids whose parents can't or don't? Wasn't that the point of the gov't being involved in lunches to begin with?
#AskUSDA
@imatwitsoitweetI think schools should call it "food and nutrition" not lunch, this way its like a class and they can be graded for eating right.
#ASKUSDA
@wagfarms@karenlebillon The answer was that parents shud send snacks to make up the difference in what's served and needed. Unimpressed.
#AskUSDA @USDAQ7 RT @gabifretes @USDA Do you see a future in school healthy gardens for all schools in the country? Is it possible to achieve?#AskUSDA
@USDAA7 Thornton: I definitely see a future in school gardens. They help kids know where food comes from & to develop healthy habits.
#AskUSDA
@TroyHadrick@USDA School gardens don't work very well when our first frost date is just weeks after school starts in the fall.
@USDAQ8 RT @katpinke: @USDA What about free & reduced lunch students who can't afford to buy additional food at school?#ASKUSDA #schoofoodsrule
@USDAA8 Thornton: There are a number of programs available in schools to help meet dietary needs of kids during the school day.
#AskUSDA
@conniepgilbertGot a 8 y/o picky-eater, I send his lunch b/c the food does not look tasty.
@USDA #askUSDA How will u ensure the food is better prepared.
@shley_says@USDA So your are pretty much saying that students who are athletes are punished for being ACTIVE.
#AskUSDA
@katpinkeRT
@troyhadrick:
#ASKUSDA It seems the new
#schoolfoodsrulepunishes the kids that R most active. Shud encourage more kids 2 B active &...
@katpinke@USDA I was at our school board mtg. Our school does NOT know what these programs are. Please share.
#ASKUSDA
@USDAA8 Thornton: For information on these programs, check out the
@USDANutrition website:
http://ow.ly/dk4ge #AskUSDA @USDAQ9 RT @conniepgilbert @USDA what are school systems doing to get kids to try the new & improved meals? #askUSDA#schoolfoodsrule
@MushroomChannel@gastromom That is such a great point. If it doesn't taste good - kids will not eat it.
#ASKUSDA
@USDAA9 Thornton: Schools can use posters, flyers, taste tests, & school news channels to encourage students to try new healthy meals.
#AskUSDA
@crystalcattleA9 I know a flier of a vegetable wasn't going to get me to eat more vegetables.
#SchoolFoodsRule #ASkUSDA @USDAQ10 RT @cassphillips11: Kids can't function properly without enough food. We're not getting enough. #askUSDA #mstmcomp
@wagfarms@USDA I've read the NAP guidelines you've provided. Where are afternoon concerns? Just breakfast and lunch.
#AskUSDA #schoolfoodsrule
@USDAA10 Thornton: Kids need breakfast, lunch, healthy snax & dinner. School lunches provide approximately 1/3 of a child's daily needs.
#AskUSDA @USDAQ11 RT @wagfarms #AskUSDA Why is emphasis on reducing proteins instead of increasing physical activity? Remember the Pres. Fitness Chall?
@freezelouise@USDA Pretty unimpressed w/ this chat. Ppl asking legitimate Qs, USDA giving rubber-stamp As. Meet the ppl where they are!
#AskUSDA
@shelbybodineI hope the
@USDA really hears the parents who want whats best for kids. Scary to me that we all forget what the U in USA means.
#AskUSDA
@USDAA11 Thornton: School lunch proportions are based on scientific needs of kids. Physical fitness important too.
#AskUSDA
@Zamzee@USDA @wagfarms If schools don't also emphasize physical activity, they've lost half the battle before starting
#AskUSDA
@karenlebillon@katpinke @usdanutrition @USDA Should we 'regulate' portion size, or teach kids 2 recognize satiety signals so they won't over-eat?
#askUSDA @USDAQ12 RT @katpinke: @USDA Would you to come to my rural@WishekND school and help us create real solutions? Please. Set the example. #ASKUSDA
@USDAA12 Thornton: We do have a best practices sharing center! You can get ideas from schools around the country:
http://ow.ly/dk5TD #AskUSDA
@chris_darr21@USDA how about you come down and try school food.
#askUSDA#mstmcomp
@WishekND@usda We would love to have you visit us to demonstrate the
#SCHOOLFOODSRULE in a new setting!
#ASKUSDA @USDAQ13 RT @slowmoneyfarm #ASKUSDA just to clarify, your scientific data says portion sizes of all ages of school children is the same? @katpinke@usdanutrition @USDA All kids created equal and no consideration for size & weight included in portions?
#ASKUSDA
@USDAA13 Thornton: New requirements have 3 age groups with different portion sizes for each based on avg needs. Not a one-size-fits-all.
#AskUSDA
@USDA.
@everydayepistle IOM's study School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children
http://ow.ly/dk6gj #AskUSDA #schoolfoodsrule
@USDAThanks so much for your participation on
#AskUSDA. We're about to answer our last question for this chat. Keep talking at
#schoolfoodsrule
@diana_prichard"
@USDA: We're about to answer our last question for this chat." Translation: we have no intention of giving you any real answers.
#AskUSDA
@steve_lammers#AskUSDA has yet again shown how we fail to grasp that IDEAS create change, not PROGRAMS.
#FailingSociety
@StacyHadrickI sure would like to continue to talk and learn more about
#schoolfoodsrules can another talk b scheduled?
#askusda @USDAQ14 RT @wagfarms: @USDA Is this a "diet" to try to improve numbers? What if it fails? When will it be adjusted? #AskUSDA#SchoolFoodsRule
@USDAA14 Thornton: We know healthy food plays vital role in the education of kids. We con't to monitor implementation of school meals.
#AskUSDA
@DaneBraun@USDA I just got more protein from a glass of milk at lunch then kids get from your
#schoolfoodsrule on meat. Problem? Yes!
@KLomanginoRT
@gastromom:
#AskUSDA Whatever your stand on meat or milk, let us all agree that soda does not belong in schools
@everydayepistleAlso interested in knowing if USDA intends to make one day a week meatless on lunch menus.
#askusda
@farm33@USDA educate about food but don't limit choices and force schools to conform to rules or lose funding for lunch
#AskUSDA#schoolfoodsrule
@gastromom#AskUSDA Yes! Put a Garden and a Chef in each school Stand back and watch the kids thrive;)
@crystalcattleRT
@diana_prichard:
@gastromom Where would you like kids to garden in the north during the school year?
#AskUSDA
@SlowMoneyFarm@gastromom agree but gardens are growing during summer - when kids are out of school. Who tends it?
#askUSDA
@gastromom@katpinke @crystalcattle @diana_prichard Good point
@gastromom@SlowMoneyFarm yes. That's why our culinary school has opted out, much to my disappointment going the container garden route less maint
@crystalcattle@gastromom Goes to show again that a one-size fit all plan won't work for our schools
#schoolfoodsrule @katpinke @diana_prichard
I received a sample of Feosol Iron supplement with bifera for my honest review. I found Feosol to be a much better easily to digest Iron product which is essential for women to have. 
Last night one of the best events of the year was held at my alma mater, Kansas State. It is called Watermelon Feed. Tables upon tables line the lawn of Weber Hall (where the majority of my agriculture classes and livestock judging team practices were held). And at each table is a different club or campus organization you can join. All you have to do is say hi, ask some questions and write your email down and boom you are involved. And then you eat watermelon.
Eek! That pretty much explains how excited I am when Saturdays roll around. I mean was is better than spending time with friends, gorging yourself on tailgating food while cheering on your favorite team. Nothing. OK maybe being at a cattle show. I really like those too.
I was able to read this book through Book Sneeze and at first because of the author I was not to sure I would like it. I read John MacArthur's first book and I can away from that feeling like he was putting to much emphasis on works and not enough on the love and grace of God. However I really really loved Twelve unlikely Heroes and learned so much from it. This is a study book it will teach you things you never knew about the heroes of the bible and show you how God works through even the most unlikely people.