You are so right, what they feed our kids makes me sick just hearing it from my son. I am a vegetarian and he isn't but he does enjoy meatless eating. And if all the meat eaters would just look at most health studies they would see that most don't say to eat meat.

Sorry about the multiple tries, having computer issues today. I don't think the cafeterias are offering anything less healthy than what I grew up on. I am 43 and obesity is getting worse. I think instead of spending money on food, they need to reinstate phys-ed in schools that have dropped it. When I was a kid, we played outside all the time, kids today need to get away from video games and TV and get more exercise. We didn't need to worry about weight at that age!!

I am not a vegetarian nor do I subscribe to the notion the meat is bad for you. What is bad for you is lack of balance in a diet. If my kids were offered just vegetarian choices and no meat offered, I would pull my kids out of the school system. Government has absolutely no right to tell me what to feed my kids. If you wish to be a veggie, thats your perogative. But please, allow me and mine to make our own choices.

no kid will buy lunch

I'm not sure being vegetarian is "healthier". Protein and fats are the two essential nutrients to our bodies (other than vitamins). Our bodies can manufacture energy from proteins and fats but cannot build muscle from carbs. Most vegetarian diets (unless tightly controlled) have too many carbs and not enough protein. It's the SUGARS, not the fats that make kids unhealthy!

No one forces kids to eat cafeteria lunches. No one is forcing vegetarianism, because you can still pack you kid's lunch. I'm not a liberal, but your logic is flawed, and this has nothing to do with lib/conservative. Furthermore- meat based meals actually cost tax payers MORE because meat costs more. So, maybe this is a good way to cut costs some.

Seriously? I hope your kidding. Offering vegetarian choices is forcing vegetarianism down someone's throat? There isn't a child out there that couldn't benefit from more vegetables.

I would LOVE it if my child's school offered ANYTHING with some nutritional value in the school lunch, as opposed to offering the equivalent of fast food on a daily basis.

Next thing you know, PETA's going to be showing up at our nation's schools. God help us all. Lol!

No one is forcing vegetarianism onto our children. It will be one more choice. In my house we have both meat eaters and vegetarians. You would be suprised how many foods are vegetarian that we already eat. More healthful choices in schools will lead to healthier children and adults and lower the obesity rate in the United States, which is currently rate #1.

I agree...if you want an option give one but meat eaters are NEVER going away...Next they won't allow a kid to bring meat in their own lunch...Stop trying to push your views on everyone else

Scott

How is this forcing vegetarianism down anyones throat?? When they offer burgers I don't freak out saying they are forcing carivorism down my throat, right? It is truly healthier to cut back on your meat intake. Many people don't need NEARLY as much meat as they consume. And... liberals? What does that even have to do with liberals? Do conservatists not like the idea of healthy eating? Or vegetarians? Hmm... I was unaware of this.

Who is forcing who to eat vegetarian? The article said that some school districts are "offering" a vegetarian alternative. No one is forcing anyone to eat anything now, any more than you were forced to eat when you ate in a school cafeteria. If you're representative of the non-liberal population (which I doubt) then you guys either can't read or can't interpret what you read.

No flawed logic here. Nor is it liberal/conservative. Just allow choice in school lunches. Allow me to say to my kids if you want to eat veggie go ahead but, if you want to eat a balanced meal including meat, do so. And by the way, while many of you who may be veggies snack away on potatoe chips or other snack foods and pop, etc. - well, that isn't exactly healthy either. Schools should not say this is the only choice you have. And I also agree with the person about phys ed - for that matter, get the kids away from the tv's, computers and cell phones. Obesity also comes from being a couch potatoe.

Vegetarianism is not being forced, but it is safer for your morbidly obese kid who is going to develop coronary artery disease at 25 and come to the cath table. At least, guessing on consumerism that 40% of food is vegetarian, at least 40% of people in this country have the sense to eat better. Yes your 10 old looks great at 350 lbs and you can boast "Oh he is a big boy", but he is going to die by 40 of heart disease. If eating right is not taught at teenage, it is never going to be a healthy habit in adult life.

No matter political beliefs, EVERYONE should eat more vegetables and have healthier options other than canned and frozen processed foods. You know, in my school, the average meal can range anywhere from 700 to 1,000 calories with JUST the main dish, no sides or milk? It's awful. If schools atleast offered something more than veggie burgers, I think kids would make better choices insted of having the main dish, or just loading up on the snacks untill they get home, which is another huge problem.

Adding a vegetarian alternative is a good thing. I went veggie when I was 15,,,which was in the 90's. My three children are given choices at home. That can eat the veggie options like mom, or meat options like dad, or they can mix it up. The must have at least some vegetables and some fruit with each meal. Guess what, when given the options-they mix it up most of the time. When other family members visit (all meat eaters) they usually mix it up. When I contribute to potlucks, I never have leftovers, and I always bring a meatless dish (that way I don't have to wonder if there is something I can eat). I even get requests. The key is balance. My kids are normal kids. One is definitly not going to be a vegetarian, one probably will, and the other I am not sure yet. I don't obsess about weight, but the kids have limits when it comes to tv time, candy, junk food etc. None of it is banned from the home, but they don't get to eat all their parade candy at once either. I do make them play, color, and read. With the rising rates of ADHD, bi-polar disorder, ODD, OCD, etc-healthy food is esential. All that junk food only contributes to the problem. Its amazing how cutting down (I didn't say eliminate) on that stuff can be 10 times as effective as any pill. Which leads to less absenteeism at school (more money for daily attendance), few hospitalizations, few juvenile delinquency issues and so forth. Now I didn't say going veggie will eliminate all juvenile crime, but it does make the veggie teens less cranky if they actually have something on the menu that they can eat. Vegetarianism in teens continues to rise, and that trickles down to middle school and elementary school. BTW...freedom of choice goes both ways.

Kids don't eat lunch. They buy a bag of chips and a pop, save the rest for pot or clothes depending on if they're the wanna-be "cool"/bad kids or the wanna-be "cool"/good kids. If your kid actually wants to eat lunch, they'll ask if you will pack them a lunch. It hasn't been "cool" to actually get a lunch in school for about six years now, for girls it's practically taboo to eat in front of people any substantial amount of food, good for you or not. Also, when it comes to girls, becoming a vegetarian is a good cover up for an eating disorder. Veggies are thinner. So are anorexic folk and bulimics.