What's your point of view on federal intervention?

I agree!  It IS the lack of TIME at the schools :(  I *hate* the fact that they offer the chocolate milk but I can see the trade off.  I don't have that option at my daycare. Well, *I* have the option of serving it but I just DON'T.   The only way to fix the school situation IS to have more TIME/HELP.  And that will never happen as the budgets are cut as it is.  What I CAN say is... if you work at it at home- it really DOES make a HUGE difference in their futures.  My own kids (all but the youngest) are not real fond of vegies... BUT, over the years with my job and well, lets face it, ya catch on by the SIXTH kid LOL   I found that if I serve a veggie TRAY... fresh cut/washed veggies on a plate with a favorite DIP. They WILL eat it.  I don't have one DC kid or one of my own- that will not eat veggies that way.  And LOTS of veggies.   I make my dip with low fat sour cream, low fat cottage cheese and I mix "Uncle Dan's" original packet into it- they LOVE it!   But your right- that just wouldn't work at the school. In my veggi trays I always have broc, cauli, carrots, mushrooms, yellow/orange & green "peppies" (as we call them- if we called them "peppers" - NOBODY would eat them ;)  and then I add other things now and then as well. I rarely EVER serve canned- but for green beans. The mushrooms are the least favorite but when one kiddo sees another eating them- they will generally try it...... sad thing is.... at the schools- that works the same way with the chocolate milk :(   Once they know that IS an option- most all will go to it. I only have one kiddo in the elementary school these days but when she brings her own lunch- she DOES have a little container of dip- & cut veggies.  And she DOES eat them :)   But so much of that has come from it being driven into my head with the state training & regs. I wasn't always like that. And my older kids have probably suffered. And... I think the *best* thing Capri Sun has done lately is to start selling the 100% JUICE!  I serve that DAILY :) I get REALLY exasperated with the state regs and SO TIRED of all the paper work involved but really, I am glad they are in place. Because you're right- a LOT of kids do NOT get it at home and if WE (any early childhood worker) can help them NOW- it CAN make a difference later!  

the main point is we have to start with our kids and their nutrition.  feeding them crap is going to kill them.  I am a big fan of Jamie Oliver http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/J/jamies_school_dinn ers/index.html and Christopher Kimball http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060928/28lun ch.htm

i think the government should require all restaurants to publish their nutritional info. i mean when you see the calories listed on the menu for the giant rack of ribs you're about to devour, it really helps put things in perspective.

wouldn't that be great!!!  at least you would make an informed choice!

It's why i am a true communist at heart. (disclaimer:  the world has never seen true communism...only fascism and socialism, and they don't work) In our capitalist society...number one will never work.  In my perfect Communism, it would. Healthy food COSTS more...and unless we are ready to ditch the entire supply and demand economics we currently have, well you know what will happen.  Nobody wants to pay more taxes for the built environment to be where it should be:  more pedestrian walkways, drinking fountains, bathrooms, etc.  YET..#2 is not the answer either...I do NOT want a fascist state where there will be two way cameras into my living room.  Both are impossible in our world. .