Are Your Children Getting Enough to Eat at School?

A recent question regarding whether or not to ban chocolate milk in nearby Decatur schools fired up local readers about the low calorie requirements at schools.

"This just drives me nuts. I had lunch with my sons the other day & added up the calories of their school lunch - it was just over 200 calories. These kids are starving at school," one Patch reader commented. She went on to say, "Last year, I packed lunch - until my son (who's in the 5th percentile in weight - meaning in the very low end for his height) had his gogurt taken away because it wasn't healthy enough - its yogurt for gosh sakes! And, this kid is skinny as can be! And - I PACKED IT for MY KID. Yeah, there might be overweight kids, but what about the ones who really need to gain weight, have active lives & fast metabolisms?"

Another commenter said a check of WebMD revealed the recommended daily caloric count for an active male age 4 to 8 is 1,600 per day.

"That 220 calorie lunch is already not enough for our kids. Don't take more away," she commented. "Sorry, I think I'm sensitive on this topic... I have to watch my 48lb 7-year-old get crushed by 90 lb boys at football all of the time!" 

Well, it appears Patch readers in Georgia are not alone in these views. A video, making the rounds on YouTube, was made recently by students and teachers in Kansas. In the video, the students sing "We are Hungry," to the tune of "We are Young."

Do you think recent move to reduce calories in student lunches is taking it too far? Is the health of students being compromised as a result?