Menifee School Lunch Programs
The Californian reported that Menifee schools removed some beef from its cafeterias, after an animal rights group made claims that abused co...
http://www.menifee247.com/2008/02/menifee-school-lunch-programs.htm
The Californian reported that Menifee schools removed some beef from its cafeterias, after an animal rights group made claims that abused cows may have diseased meat...
http://www.nctimes.com/.../californian/22_11_392_1_08.txt
I still don't know why schools even bother to serve food.
Years ago, I published an article here, where I reported on what some kids in my neighborhood told me, that they just throw away the fruits and vegetables that Ridgemoor Elementary serves up.
Does the school district completely recoup its spending on food service from sales? I guess I don't know that answer.
But in the midst of talking about higher property taxes to pay for more schools, and knowing that a lot of food gets thrown away in schools, I can't helping wondering if we're losing money here.
The society claims those actions are not only cruel, but that meat from "downed cows" carries an increased risk of disease. Hallmark supplies Westland Meat Co., which processes the carcasses and supplies meat for school and other government programs.You can read the full article here...
http://www.nctimes.com/.../californian/22_11_392_1_08.txt
I still don't know why schools even bother to serve food.
Years ago, I published an article here, where I reported on what some kids in my neighborhood told me, that they just throw away the fruits and vegetables that Ridgemoor Elementary serves up.
Does the school district completely recoup its spending on food service from sales? I guess I don't know that answer.
But in the midst of talking about higher property taxes to pay for more schools, and knowing that a lot of food gets thrown away in schools, I can't helping wondering if we're losing money here.
I worked for four years at a middle school in Lake Elsinore and the lunch ladies MADE the kids take the "whole" lunch (fruit, milk, sandwich, etc.). The kids would chuck the milk and fruit right into the trash can that was placed outside the door for the purpose of giving them somewhere to throw their unwanted food. I asked why they did this and they said the state required them to make the kids take the complete meal. If you ask me, that sounds odd.
ReplyDeleteI am all for getting rid of the lunch program, the only kids that really benefit from it are all the illegal kids that are attending the schools.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Can't believe the last comment! Not all the kids that eat lunch are illegal!!! How ignorant are you to make such a racist comment!
ReplyDeleteI also would like to point out that the second post is asking us to STARVE children out of our public schools.
ReplyDeleteTo the above commenter about "STARVE". The point is that its the parents responsibility to provide their kids with a lunch, not the school district.
ReplyDeleteIf a family is TOO poor to afford food, the federal government provides subsidies for free food.
Steve says schools should not give students food for free. He says that it is the parents responsibility to provide their children with lunches. Then he says that the government will give parents free food. Where does Steve think the funding for free and reduced lunch is coming from? Bake sales? Free and reduced lunch is a government program and is intended to feed those that cannot afford it themselves. Poster #2 wants to end free and reduced lunch because they think only illegals take advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteCompare the cost of buying a loaf of bread,veggies and some lunch meat or peanut butter and jelly to send with a child, than the cost for the school to school to provide lunches, than tell me who is ignorant.
ReplyDeleteoops, suppose to read than the cost for the schools to provides lunches
ReplyDeleteOkay, let's do your comparison. Let's say that a single family can buy a loaf of bread for $2.00, a jar of peanut butter for $3.00, and a jar of jelly for $3.00. Throw in a box of sandwich bags for a few bucks and some brown paper bags for maybe a dollar and you've got two weeks worth of lunch for $10. Now, the school will buy in bulk, getting the bread cheaper, peanut butter cheaper, and jelly cheaper that you can and they do not have to buy bags. The schools feed our children at a much more cost effective rate than a single family ever could.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that right now we are having a hard time financially and the free lunch at the high school for our son really helps us out..we tried to get food stamps but were declined because we own two cars..and no we are not illegal..our family has been in this country for almost 400 years..since 1635.
ReplyDeleteThe author of comment #2 is a real idiot! Im an school administrator for a local district and in this area the majority of students receiving free and reduced lunch are "white" non latino. When I read posts like these it makes me wonder why in the hell did I ever move out here. In my opinion, people should not have kids if they cant afford them. Many good people fall on hard times, thats why our country provides benefits like these, but the bottom feeders who live off of al of us hard working people need to stop taking advantage of this country.
ReplyDeleteSetting the record straight. I currently work for the MUSD as a teacher and have done so for over 10 years. Over these past years I have often had breakfast duty before school. We have many students in the morning who receive a free breakfast. For the record the ethnicity of the students is equal to all races. Poverty exists everywhere and has no boundaries. What bothers me is the amount of food wasted and its lack of nutrional value. Breakfast usually consists of a deep fried sausage dipped in batter and sprinkled with powdered sugar, a bowl of some brand of sugar coated cereal, a cinnamon sticky bun, or blueberry muffin. It is already prepackaged, not prepared by the MUSD. It comes with berry juice or apple juice and chocolate milk. Notice I never mentioned any fruit or anything nutritious. What sickens me every morning is the amount of carbohydrates and sugar our school children are eating. Do these students need something in their belly before school starts? Yes. They would go without eating if they couldn't eat at school. I just wish it was something that was good for them. The cost of this free breakfast is funded by the government and the cafeteria must serve both beverages. As I see the kids walk away from the cafeteria I see them throw away the milk before ever getting to the tables. The teacher on duty tries to collect the extra milks and give them away, but much of it is wasted. I have asked the workers to take it back, but they say they can't because of government regulations to serve X amount per day. Additionally it is served on a styrofoam plate, not recycled paper.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to the school lunches actually being prepared by the "lunch ladies"? Chilimac, spagetti , grilled cheese.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not take out our political views on the children. They are all equal no matter who their parents are. Every kid deserves a meal.
No one can argue that the lunches served in schools are not as good as they should be, nevertheless, school lunches (free or not) keep many of our children with food in their stomach throughout the day. You see, not all moms are stay-home moms and are able to provide a packed lunch all the time fo rthe kids, sometimes it's easier to give them money or create them an account for they to buy lunch. As you can see, it's not only the illigal children that benefit from school lunch but the rest of us as well. Next time you decide to give your opinion, do some research so that you don't appear as ignorant as you have.
ReplyDeleteWhy in the world are you guys arguing over this. The schools provide a well balanced meal for kids to eat. Including Fruit, Salad, milk and something hot to eat. There has always been reduced lunches for people that can't afford full price.
ReplyDeleteTeach your kids at home to eat the fruit and vegies. If you want to waste your money and have them buy their lunch and then have them throw it out, thats your choice.
The lunches are prepared by a lunch lady. Where to you people get your information?
If you are financially burdened, then try to get on the WIC program. It provides Milk,Cheese, Cereal, and other things kids like to eat.
Healthy Eating starts at home,and from the looks of some of the kids and parents around here, thats not happening.
I find it quite amusing that the same people who cannot afford to feed their children drop off and pick up their children each day in their nice new automobiles with 22" rims (and the stickers to prove it) bumping systems, latest clothes, etc. The reason they can't "afford" it is because they have no REPORTABLE income - GET IT? It's not racist to call someone illegal - it's TRUE - but being the Pepsi Generation (Much too sweet these days), we are not allowed to speak the truth. My wife is a school teacher and we have two kids at Ridgmoor and one at MVMS so don't accuse me of making this up - we see it and live it everyday!. If they're "undocumented aliens" then I'm an undocumented border patrol agent! Stick that in your Politically Correct pipe and smoke it!
ReplyDeleteTo Minuteman,
ReplyDeleteI hope your wife follows the ciriculum and does not give off as much hatred as yourself.
My son also goes to MVMS and he has a hispanic name, but a legal father. I hope your wife does not jugde him like it seems you would.
I cannot imagine anyone caring if a child receives a meal at lunch time? As a mom, I hope that no child is hungary while at school.
As a Chumash Indian, I would hope all illegals go home.
ReplyDeleteDons72: Amen!
ReplyDeleteTo the Bleeding Heart Mom: Hatred? What hatred? My hard earned money is taxed to the max to ensure that people who break the law, lie about their income and don't pay taxes get free lunch (courtesy of me), 22" rims, housing assistance (again, thanks to me), etc. etc. The list goes on. I understand that you have been brainwashed that TRUTH = HATRED, and for that I really do feel sorry for you. I was raised to respect all, fear none, do more than my fair share and question everything. There are many laws that I disagree with, but i follow them, therfore I am not a criminal. I tell the truth, after researching the facts and according to you, that is hatred. How sad. I Never mentioned hispanic names - and for the record, my children are hispanic - so that removes your smokescreen!
How sad it must be to be the Minuteman (perhaps he got that nickname from his wife). He claims he is "taxed to the max" but I highly doubt that (ask a European how much they pay!) He also assumes that these people that have 22' inch rims are getting free lunches for their children? How does he know that? He clearly is not friends with them as he considers them criminals. Some people just don't share well with others and hate to help those that they believe are not worthy of their assistance.
ReplyDeleteTo the Socialist above me - in Europe, people are taxed a great deal. For their taxes they get very little in return. The Health & Welfare Sytem over there is terrible - ever hear the phrase "You get what you pay for"? Look at EVERY government ran service in this country. Bureacracies that cold use some major overhauling. Ever been to the DMV? INS? Sharing with others, you say? If people like you had their way we could just knock down all borders and then we could all share. Our minimum wage would drop and your $8.75 an hour job at Wal-Mart would soon become $1.00 an hour. But you could be happy that you are sharing.As far as "Minuteman" goes - funny. Check your US History oh brainwashed one!
ReplyDeleteMinuteman says that the Europeans pay a ton of taxes for very few services. Then he tries to prove his point by saying, "You get what you pay for." That makes a lot of sense. If that were true, wouldn't Europe have the best services?
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that the poster that made fun of the sexual prowess of Minuteman was claiming to open up the borders. I believe they were just stating that not every poor person is an illegal alien (or even a minority) and that we cannot deport American children just because their parents are illegally here.
ReplyDeleteHey Minuteman,
ReplyDeleteI will personally purchase you a set of 22" rims with my tax rebate check from the government.
I was going to buy a bunch of school kids lunch, but the schools already have that covered.
Who cares how much Europeans are taxed. You should care about what is coming out of your own pocket. My husband and I work hard for our money. I don't like paying for others to live and have health care, etc.
ReplyDeleteI stood behind a lady at the grocery store who was on the WIC Program I mentioned, she was talking on her cell phone. You make scarifices to feed, clothe and shelter your kids. A cell phone should be one of them.
I don't think that just because you are born here, should should automatically be a citizen. Your parents should have to be.
So Holly wants to stop having her tax money go to government programs, ban poor people from owning cell phones, and rewrite the Constitution in regards to citizenship. Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteyou better leave holly alone .....
ReplyDeleteHolly,
ReplyDeleteLiberalism is a disease. These people who are calling Minuteman's words "Hatred" have been blinded by the Left. Why would a FREE man or woman have their money taken from them to feed, clothe, and house criminals? Teachers, who are very underpaid mindyou, just received letters in the mail telling them that their raises have been put on hold due to the California budget crisis. Do you know how many millions of dollars we are paying each year to incarcerate illegal criminals in our jails? But when you state the facts, they call you a hatemonger? That money could be put to use employing more Police Officers, Firefighters and Teachers and paying them what they are worth. Instead those who have devoted their lives to teaching our children won't get their raise, but the criminals will have a roof over their head, free medical and dental, clothing and food, so I guess we should just be thankful for that! ALL children should eat - this is why we VOLUNTARILY donate money each paycheck to feed children all around the world. When you FORCE me to support other people who are breaking the law, I have a serious problem with that. Do some research people, don't let emotion blind the facts. In a few years, if it keeps going this way, America will be destroyed!
All right. I agree. Let's do it. Let's get rid of all illegals in order to save moeny. Let's do it right now. Let's not waste anymore time about it. Ok, first things first. We'll have to FIND all of the illegals. Hmm, that might be difficult but if we hired more police and put them in charge of nothing else, they could probably round them all up. Everybody knows where every illegal is, right? What? What is that? THERE MIGHT BE AS MANY AS 12 MILLION OF THEM? Dear God! That will cost a pretty penny! If it comes out that hunting illegals costs more than a few bucks per success story, that could be millions and millions of dollars spent on hunting them down. Oh well, no matter. The illegals must be kicked out. OK, we have rounded them all up. We've got 12 million illegals sitting in holding pens all over the United States. Damn, we need to build some more holding pens because we don't have a jail large enough to hold an extra 12 million people. Hmm, how do we get them back to their country? Fly them? Yeah, 12 million coach tickets would be a nice use of tax-payer dollars. Drive them? Sure, with gas at $3.00 a gallon that would be very cost efficient. You could probably safely get 10 illegals into a van so you would only need to use 1.2 million vans to get them back where they came from. Not to mention the salaries of the illegal alien hunters, the detention camp guards, and the 1.2 million van drivers. But, after spending 100's of millions of dollars, we have them all kicked out. Well, we gotta keep them out. A wall! A border wall is the answer! Hmm, it's gotta be tall so they can't climb over it. It's also gotta be thick so they can't drill through it. Don't forget to make it deep in the Earth so they cannot tunnel through it. So how much would it cost to pay tens of thousands of workers to use millions of dollars of supplies to build a 15 feet tall, 3 feet thick, 10 feet deep, 1,969 mile long, concrete wall? Keep in mind that this is nearly 780 million cubic feet of concrete structure (with thousands of miles of rebar reinforcing it) Would that be a satisfactory use of tax payer dollars? Yes yes. We must do all of this in order to save some money.
ReplyDeleteNot like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
ReplyDeleteWith conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Holly, if you had any sense at all, you would understand that your comment is ridiculous. I guess you are a Native American. If your comment is what you really think, then your parents would have to go by the same standards and grandparents too. Every single member of your ancestry was born here??? If a person is born here, it is their God given right to be a citizen. Stop being a hater. I wonder if you have ever benefitted from the government or others'???
ReplyDeleteTo the comment above me, Why don't you sign your name? I think you are ridiculous and stupid for your views, things are different now. If you like your hard earned money going to a family that is not a US citizen, because they had a baby here, thats your choice. I would rather not. Then again you probably are getting government help right now.
ReplyDeleteI am not a hater. I just want people to take care of their own like I do and all of my friends do. Why do you accuse me and others of being haters when we don't want people getting freebies. And no I have never had any government assistance, and neither has my parents or my siblings. YOU?
Holly claims she has "never had any government assistance."
ReplyDeleteSo, she has never...
Driven on a public road
Been in a public park
Gone to a public school
Voted in an election
Gone to court
Received a tax rebate
Used money (Federal Promissary Notes!)
Used student aid
Been to a public library
Swam in a public pool
Been in the military
Been on a military base
Ridden on Amtrak
Used the United States Postal Service
Taken money off her taxes for business expenses
Visited a public museum
Visited a public beach
Used public electricity
Used public water supplies
Dropped off something at the County dump
Gotten a driver's license
Received a Social Security number
There are probably others but they are not coming to mind.
I think Holly meant to say "handout".... Like that free cheese you stand in line for. That must be where you have time to think about what to list on Menifee 24/7.
ReplyDeleteYou heard it here first on Menifee 24/7... there are people in this town that want hungry children to starve. Sad.
ReplyDeleteWow. Somebody has really been laying the smack down on Holly.
ReplyDeleteThis all comes down to there are always those who abuse the system and ruin it for everybody else. Granted there maybe be more white kids on the free lunch program in this area but when you look at the big picture we are spending way to much money on wasted food. And when did having a different opinion than someone else be racist?
ReplyDeleteI thought this was the US and freedom of speech. There are so many of us who are just plain tired of given our hard earned money to be wasted.
Why do we want to starve the children? Our country was built to help all people, I agree that illegal aliens should have to pay to stay in our county or at least apply for citizenship, but I don't feel that we should view the children as receiving handouts. I am more than happy to know that some of my tax dollars are keeping people fed. I rather that than it go to a government official's ferrari account. Holly does appear to show some resentment towards people with economic disadvantages. Maybe she needs to broaden her mind a bit. In some sort of way we are all receiving government assistence. Cutting the lunch program is not the answer. Let's be real here: America is built with Christian ideals, we should help ALL that we can and not blame a child for his parents' faults. Remember, if you are born here, then you are a CITIZEN, like it or not.
ReplyDeleteThe ugliness being spewed back and forth over a simple meal for a child is heartwrenching. If one could only work in the school system and see a child having to eat the 'alternative-lunch' (because his parents were either behind in lunch payments or simply didn't have the $$ for a regular lunch) in front of his classmates' eating the 'good' lunch, you'd put your efforts into wanting the schools all to offer free lunches to ALL kids ! Could you really enjoy seeing a child eating the tattletale 'pauper's' serving in front of his peers eating the 'king's portion'? NO ! Have a heart ! If you can spew such disgust over a simple lunch, what do you do with the REALLY BIG things in your life? Please tell me what you drive, I'll go out of my way to avoid encountering your 'road-rage'!
ReplyDeleteCutting out school lunches was never my idea, and I am not for it. This has gotten so far off school lunches.
ReplyDeleteI don't have resentment towards people who are in a financial hardship, just those that are here for handouts.
I have given food to the Menifee Food Cupboard, bought toys for needy kids at Christmas, donated tons of stuff to Abused Women, give up my free time to the Menifee Little League, Junior All American Football League, PTA, while the rest of you probably don't volunteer for anything.So give me a break, on your comments about me.
People need to make adjustments in there life if there kids are going hungry.
I don't agree with alot of our government policies, and I can state my views like the rest of you, You don't have to like them.
You all have a great Presidents weekend. My family's off to Mammoth.
I deleted the last comment because it did nothing slam Holly. If you want to talk about school lunches, or politics, fine, if you want to slam someone, find another website.
ReplyDeleteWow. Break out the virtual baseball bats and swing away. I guess in this thread your damned if you do and damned if you don't. Resume swinging...
ReplyDeleteWow. Break out the virtual baseball bats and swing away. I guess in this thread your damned if you do and damned if you don't. Resume swingng...
ReplyDeleteSchool lunches leave much to be desired. As a teacher in the MUSD, on those rare occasions when I did buy a lunch, I skipped the main entree, to try and find something substantial at the salad bar, sorting through the thawed celery sticks, canned fruit in sugary syrup, and the iceberg lettuce.
ReplyDeleteAt one time, dark green leafy lettuce dressed up the lifeless salad bar. What happened? It was taken away within a week and replaced with iceberg lettuce again!
We are shortchanging our kids with the same colorless menu week after week-- no variety. It is distressing to realize we have someone(not a dietitian)earning a salary, who chooses these lunches from a state menu, so it is strictly a business transaction. Peperoni pizza one day and corn dogs the next does not qualify as a nutritious lunch. Consistency and uniformity week after week has nothing to do with consistency.
I'll keep rewarding my students for bringing healthy snacks to school(juicy apples, grapes, berries, banana's carrots etc.)so other kids can follow.
Are the lunches prepared by the cafeteria? The food items are prepackaged and merely heated. As for that tasty bean and cheese burrito - Take a look at the ingredients on the box they're delivered in, and you'll see a ginormous list of hard to pronounce words and a variety of transfats ingredients and additives.
If children are to grow and learn, than proper nutrition should be requirement, not a choice.
I'll take my peanut butter sandwich anyday, thank you.
I have read all of the above about the school lunch program. My main concern is about the children. They like to have something they know how it tastes and not have to worry if it will be good or not so good. They get more than lunch. They get someone to smile at them and not have a test later. they have been in class all morning and they want a break. They like continuity in their meals at school. The count always goes up quite a bit when they have Chicken Nuggets or Pizza. They do not care if they had it last week or will have it next week. they just like it.
ReplyDeleteLet me clear up a few misconceptions on the school lunch program. The Federal and State Governments reimburses the schools for the meals they serve. Here are the current rates for this school year per meal served.
ReplyDeleteFree $2.47
Reduced $2.07 plus the paid .40 cents
Full paid .23 plus the $1.50 (Elementary cost)Not alot of money to serve a meal. It will be less next year due to state budget cuts.
The reimbursement rates must cover all operational cost. Food, equipment,salaries just to name a few.
By LAW each meal must meet the minimum guidelines as well as nutritional values to be claimed as a reimbursable meal. The milk and 100% juice must be served. Now do all students drink the milk or juice, some do some don't. They can not force a child to eat or drink there meal. (common sense 101)
Not all food items on the menus will all students like. They do the best they can with what is available to them.With the recent changes in the nutritional guidelines and recalls on some food items there are not to many choices that they can menu that will meet the strict guidlines or the cost per item. As everything else out there costs are going up.
Here is a shocker: Many students that bring a lunch from home throw most of they lunches away also. This is nation wide and not just a Menifee issue.
Food service employees are hard working dedicated employees doing there best to provide a meal for the students. Good eating habits starts at home, please spend some time with them and teach them good eating habits.
Why do we serve lunches at school. You would be surprised at how many students come to school without a lunch or any money. They make sure everyone eats. If not a hot meal than a alternate meal. If the student lets them know they have no lunch or money they will be fed. One student came to school with a unopened can of soup and a spoon. The food service is not allowed to open the can and heat it for them. That is one reason why they have the cafeteria for them. The food is prepared with strict rules to make sure they are safe and much attention is given to prevent cross contamination. Yesterday they served Chicken Rings. The students loved them. I ate one and it was very good.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the anonymous comment with all the sarcasim re. illegals.....No, we don't need to find all 12 million illegals and tansport them back to their countries or creat more "pens" for them. The answer is very simple ...Penalize the employers with a hefty fine who are giving the illegals work. If employers would stop giving these people work, they will go back to their countrieson their own if they can't find any work to make a living.
ReplyDeleteOk MR set the Record st8, u asked for it. Make it Known. i work in foor service at MUSD. i serve lunches to hundreds of students daily. may i add the majority of "free" school lunches are indeed being handed out to hispanic kids without a doubt. there here to take advantage , and bleed out system, and they have it completely figured out. so when your in doubt about remaining here from wherever the hell you moved from, u might consider packing it up and moving back to hickville use where they still believe in southers justice. our school tax paid on new home sales does nothing for the schools. it over pays our teachers that are riddled with attitude, and think they have some kind of power in the community. we have 3 picture days a year now can u also explain that? there is no good reason. we dont need spring, western , and fall pic's its just confusing to the timeframe of school or yr. its nothing more then a money pit and you think all parents are suckers indeed. my children will never be allowed to sell candy, bring home a cheasy book filled with crafts to sell for a crappy gift. and would never go door to door for the benifit of these area schools. its not about the kids anymore people, or education. its about overpaid teachers and staff, and the teachers union that will never sacrofice wage over a school closing. they simply dont give a 5h1t about our kids , and there not fooling anyone. (may i add)i have contributed over eight thousand dollars in school tax to the Menifee USD. for a school which is closing. menifee el. me and several others will also be filing a class action law suit to re claim our school tax money. there is currently 113 families involved it sticking it to you. thanks for nothing, your nothing other than a bunch of overpaid yuppies, and air heads on a power trip.
ReplyDeleteSo True!!
ReplyDeleteSo not true.
ReplyDeleteI have observed the ladies in the cafeteria for a long time. I have a hard time believing a lunch lady feels the way you do. Are you really a lunch lady?
observe all you want, you have no idea what are true feelings are.
ReplyDeleteI work for the District, thats really all you need to know.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea CONCERNED, in this time of economic struggle and uncertainty let's tell people to fire 12 million workers. That will jump start the economy! Plus, what if the illegals don't leave but just become homeless people begging on the streets? You want 12 million illegals asking for money on our city streets?
ReplyDelete