When I was in high-school I ate about 3 cups of french-fries with ranch dressing for lunch almost everyday. When I didn't have that I got a cup-o-noodles, or a pop tart from the school store. There were days that I had nachos, and salads absolutely covered in dressing and cheese. Those were probably the good days. I wish that french fries alone was not an option, that dressing and cheese were portioned, and that I had a better clue of what I should have been eating.
The food guide pyramid (brought to us by the government department in charge of promoting sales of american farmed products) told me that I should be eating lots of carbs, but as a kid I didn't understand that I needed more of everything else in proportion to them, or that I needed high fiber carbs.
I think an ideal school breakfast would be two servings of a high fiber cereal or oatmeal and whole milk, with a whole banana or berries mixed in, and a hard boiled egg or two. For lunch I'd want to see at least three servings of vegetables(fresh is best, salad, baby carrots, and/or broccoli florets), at least two servings of protein, and two servings of whole grains in the form of a sandwich or wrap, a nice low sodium minestrone soup, or the salad can be made chef style with meats and light cheese. Snacks between meals are just as important. I think fresh fruits, dried fruits with nuts, and fruit and yogurt parfaits are a great snacks.
If school lunches and breakfasts had been set up as ideal meals for growing kids I think I would have understood and learned how to eat right a little sooner in my life. Parents might be responsible for it but that doesn't mean they are good at it, have the time, or even the knowledge of what a healthy diet is.
I feel like I didn't emphasize the importance of eating foods raw.....fresh fruit, nuts, and bite sized veggies should be more available than vending machine foods, soda, cookies, fries, and chips.
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