Local dieticians support healthy school lunches

To the Editor,

As local dietitians who live in the community, we support the steps the school lunch program has taken to make meals healthier. The author, Susan Levin, of Tuesday’s letter to the editor “Dietitian gives insight into school food guidelines” takes an extreme stance on childhood obesity, the causes and treatments. School lunch is not a weight loss program. School lunch is intended to provide adequate nutrients for growing bodies such as iron, zinc, protein and calcium.

This author’s views are not shared by the majority of dietitians.

The pizza and burgers Ms. Levin refers to in her letter do provide nutrients and can be prepared healthfully. These are also foods that most kids will eat.

There is no scientific evidence to support the author’s claim that the calories and saturated fat found in meat, milk and cheese contribute to childhood obesity.

Low fat milk is not high in sugar as the author claims. Susan Levin made an unfair comparison between the calories in one percent milk and “sugary” soda. Milk provides an excellent source of calcium, protein and Vitamin D for children. Soda provides zero nutrients.

Yes, school lunch provides one-third of a child’s calories at school. That leaves two-thirds consumed at home; therefore, parents, caregivers and grandparents need to provide healthful foods to the kids and set a good example by consuming a balance and variety of healthful foods.

We whole-heartedly agree with the author’s statement “we need to make sure schools provide foods that set our future generations up for lifelong good eating habits — and lifelong good health.” Yet this needs to be accomplished through providing real food that real kids will eat.

Deb Nilles, RD, LD

Nancy Schive, RD, LD

Jenny Thompson, RD, LD, CDE