I like PB&J sandwiches as well as cheese sandwiches. I think as long as the child gets something, it's better than nothing.

Larry, you're right, parents need to step up.

I agree with you 100%! My children are on the reduced lunch program but before that there were times when they've had to eat PB&J because there wasn't money in there. I am thankful that they had a lunch to eat at all! I was packing cold lunch when we had food at home but that wasn't always the case. In other countries children dont eat all day long so, I am thankful that my kids have something to keep them going during the day. I think people are so ungrateful in this country and its spilling over to the kids. We have it too good and don't realize it!

As Larry pointed out, the cheapest option is for parents to send their children to school with a packed lunch. Although my family had enough money to get by, I was only allowed to buy lunch 2 days per week as a child. Now, as an adult making decent money, I follow that same rule and only buy lunch one or two days per week. Our tax dollars can definitely be spent in better ways than buying lunch for children whose parents could send a packed lunch with them.

I agree with Stacey. We as a country have become too spoiled and we do not always appreciate what we have. Other children have nothing and our children are turning their noses at a cheese sandwich, fruit & carton of milk?!? I pack my own lunch for work, and our childrens' lunch for school. Often times those lunches are a cheese sandwich and we all agree that it's better than the alternative (going hungry). Learn some appreciation & responsibility and stop looking for handouts.

When did it become the responsibility of schools to feed our children? A parent that can not even feed their own child needs to give up their own food to their child. I would personally go hungry before I would let my children. If food is that much of a problem, our country provides food stamps and or Welfare. Thus the child can carry a sack lunch to school from home. Shame on any parent who would allow their child to go without food in a country that has it available in some form, practically every where you look. There is absolutely no parental excuse for allowing a child to go with out food. NOT ONE!

I wouldnt even THINK of sending my child to school without lunch or money for it. What kind of parent would put their child in that position? The PARENTS here are punishing their children and then blaming someone else for how bad little Suzie feels. STEP UP and take care of your children. It's pathetic. At the beginning of the school year, everyone is allowed to fill out the paperwork for reduced and free lunches. Why wasnt that done? Instead you let hundreds of dollars in unpaid lunches build up STILL without filling out the paperwork and then CRY because your child got a balanced, STILL FREE lunch. ARGGHHHHH - the epitome of what is wrong with this country today.

maybe the schools should get more from the stimulus. these kids will be stuck with the bill, maybe they should be eating steak. or let them eat cheese, they should probably get (used) to having nothing.

Larry, I feel your comments are justified. Some of these parents just don't want to be responsible and provide for their children with either a home-made lunch or money. We live in Ohio and I am fortunate enough to be able to send lunch money to my son at school and I also speak with the head lunch lady who handle the department and I assist with other kids who need the money for lunches. I usually write several checks for $50 to these kids lunch accounts so they can eat what their friends are and getting something filling and healthy. I only hope that other people out there would help out the same way if they can. These kids come from situations that are not of their making or even their parents making in some cases and I don't feel right not giving back. It's for the kids!

The problem is that the school is being strapped with a huge bill for students that are charging lunches and the parents arent paying the bill.  The majority of the charging students can afford full price, but they don't pay it andit ends up hurting someone that really can't afford to pay for lunches. The parents have got to start taking some responsibility, and if the school lunch programs would stop charging lunches period to any students the problem would be solved. They give out forms for free/reduced lunches at the beginning of school every year and if the status of the finances changes they student can reapply. It doesn take long to get this done. And I know that if there is an emergency with funds something can be done to help the students get a lunch without the embarrassement of being pulled out of line. It all comes back down to verifying information and stopping charges.

I agree. Its the old saying "beggars can't be choosers!" The school is still giving the students something to eat. If they don't like it, don't eat it or pay the bill. Might sound harsh, but thats LIFE!!

I agree 100%, the parents need to step up to the plate here. They have plenty of time, prior to the school season starting, to apply for free and/or reduced pricing. Buy a loaf of bread and some peanut butter, we survived, so can you.

Really? Do you think schools still have time for snacks? Now with all the regulations, budgeting problems, testing and NCLB policies schools can barely afford to give the kids a 20 minute lunch period during which they have to wash their hands, get in line, get their meal, sit down, eat and clean up. I'm willing to bet kids have approximately 10 minutes to digest their food.

How do you propose schools accomplish this on top of everything else they are responsible for. Parents are better off sending lunch with their kids. I work in a private school and we do not offer free lunch. 25% of our kids pack their lunches everyday.

I understand that some families can't afford to buy food and sometimes the only time a child eats is at school. But families also need to be responsible enough to sign their kids up for the free/reduced lunch program.

And schools offer breakfast too...

The good ol' days are gone.

I agree that the parents should be the responsible one here. Mu neice is on a free and reduced program after her father and mother have no job. She is given a choice and she usually choses peanut butter and jelly. But if she were to have to pay for that same lunch which includes a milk and a fruit it would be close to $3.00. Is it just me or is that it self a little extreme. My husband is in the business of processing food for scholl lunch programs. Let me tell you if the budget is off in the school they may want to look at what they are paying the head people who run the program. I know the lunch ladies do not make that much. But to blame the kids or punich them for what there parents decide or not decide is wrong. Someone should be contacting the parents before it gets that far out of hand. They should also help the parnets throught eh systemof applying for the free and reduced program. And if they have applied them the school should still let the child pick what they want and not punich them.

I have been working for over 30 years, and I still pack my lunch. Where did we get this idea that anything less than a hot meal is demeaning?

We were sent to school with a sack lunch every day. If we wanted a school lunch, we were welcome to use our chore-earned allowance to purchase it.

However, I do feel the schools should preserve the dignity of the child - littly Billy did nothing wrong. There's no reason to single him out by pulling him from the lunch line.

I agree that giving the child a cold cheese sandwich is the MOST the school should do. Why can't Mom make a bread and buter sandwich at home for the child to take to school. If you can't afford kids, don't have them. They are YOUR responsibility - not anyone else's.

I am a doctor and my husband is an engineer. We eat cheese sandwiches all the time. Exactly what is wrong with this nutritionally balanced meal? When I was still a student I packed lunches at home because they were cheaper.

If the parents get food stamps, and choose not to pack a lunch for their children, shouldn't some portion of that go to the schools - 5 meals worth per child per school week?

One concern I hear a lot is that schools serve low-quality overly processed food with lots of salt and fat, rather than anything cooked from scratch with less processing and more nutrition AND more quantity for the dollar spent.

If the school is looking to stretch its dollar, the choice of food purchased and cooked could really be a solid area for action.

The article said that some of the kids were waiting on their lunch applications to be processed. I agee that the children can bring from home as well. However, singling these kids out at school is not the way to treat them. It is not their fault and kids being kids they will more likely than not be picked on and/or looked down upon by the other kids as well as some of the adults.

Most of these parents do not want to fill out the free or reduced lunch application because it requires and ss# and most of them do not have one. I had enough sense not to have childern because I could not afford to have them therefore, I dont think it is fair for responsible taxpayers to have to pay for other people's childern, stop having kids if you cant provide for them.

Most of these parents do not want to fill out the free or reduced lunch application because it requires and ss# and most of them do not have one

Oh, it's that their illegal aliens with no SS#.

Or so you state, with nothing to really back it up.

Pardon me, but when I attended grade school in the 1960s, I often had cheese or bologna sandwiches with carrot sticks for my lunch.

These are low calorie meals.

Maybe that's why we have an epidemic of OBESE KIDS. Maybe they need to eat a cheese or bologna sandwich.

Sweetheart, kids tease each other over almost everything, that is a fact of life. Now if that parent is REALLY concerned about how their child is perceived why didn't they pay the bill? Why didn't they stop their child from charging lunches they couldn't afford? And most importantly, why haven't they taken an alternative and packed a lunch with the food stamps, welfare or whatever of my tax dollars they are using and I don't get the benefit of? If a parent in this situation doesn't want his/her child "picked on" they be responsible. What's the difference between a cold PBJ or baloney sandwich and cheese? or tuna fish for that matter?

Karen you might want to look at the % of fat in bologna and the nourishment you're getting per calorie.

They shouldn't get anything! I wasn't given any lunch if I didn't have the money for it! Let the parents take some responsibility for it!!!! Let the kids pack there lunch!

Most children (depending on age) don't care what they eat, I mean usually the simpler the better. My girls always preferred lunch box vs. school meals, which then consisted of cold sandwiches. I think as long as there is a variety of foods throughout the week...whether it's cheese, ham, bologna, hot dogs...it's all good. To include milk, juice, water, fruit and that's it basically healthy. One can't live on cheese alone...but I love a cheese sandwich especially when it's hot out. I really don't think schools need to keep pushing hamburgers, pizza and all the junk foods they have, which in the end are less healthy and more expensive, unless it's crap food (which it usually is)! I think there are plenty of alternative meals besides the typical "hot" meals.

consultant13

In the good old days, schools did have this primary basics in place. What happened?

When where those good old days, and where, I don't remember two mandatory meal a day ever.

The parents should take responsibility for it I agree but there are alot of them out there that don't seem to care when it comes to there child eating lunch, some I will agree just don't have the money to, and some are to lazy to make the kid a sandwich in the morning. So I say don't punish the kid because his parents don't want to take on the responsibility of being parent.

As for two meals a day, there are school districts that provide both breakfast and lunch. The breakfast is before school starts and is optional. This allows children from poor families who get free and reduced lunches to also get a good breakfast. Eating breakfast is shown to help improve their learning. And some of the younger grades do have snacks still, especially milk.

I agree - these children are fortunate that they are getting something for nothing - and it's not a horrible something for nothing, either. I have to wonder: are these same parents who aren't able to scrape up money for their kids' lunch able to scratch up money for cell phones, pagers, etc.? I see a lot of that in our area: people crying for handouts, all the while they are "wired for sound and texting"! THAT is not a necessity - FOOD is!

For all those complaining about illegal aliens, think long and hard about who you hire to do manual labor around the house, pay for remodels, garden, etc. Even think about the food you buy from the grocery stores. Odds are, at some point, your life benefited from having an illegal alien in it.

On a totally different track, the same groups that decry people having kids they can't afford also decry sex education and birth control. You can't have it both ways here, people.

For all those complaining about illegal aliens, think long and hard about who you hire to do manual labor around the house, pay for remodels, garden, etc

I'm thinking --- Oh yeah, that would be ME! MissSea If you have any jobs around the house I'm sure you don't NEED to hire an illegal alien since there are a few million legal residents out of work that would be happy for the income.

When I was in High School in the 60's my school had a program where you could get a free lunch if you washed dishes for the last 15 minutes of your lunch break. I washed dishes for three years.

epasocherokee -- been there done that --- When my dad was unemployed I had to work in the cafiteria to get my lunch, didn't scar me a bit.

Nice sentiment Bob- however not everyone who has children is poor when they do so-duh! So I guess if you suddenly find yourself homeless with no money through no fault of your own, you should immediately put your 14 year old up for adoption? Even though until this point you had no problem supporting them? LOL There is no black and white in this.

Everyone has a situation at some point in their life which is beyond their own control, and it usually takes some time to get back on your feet. For the interum, you do the best you can, and if that means your kid has to eat the free cheese sandwich, then they better damn well appreciate the fact that they are getting the free sandwich!

My kids have had this happen to them before and they lived. People are so whiny now a days! Of course here in Fl they are pretty nasty to the kids about it. They literally yank the hot food out of the kids hand and throw it in the trash and slam a cheese sandwich on their tray instead. I never understood the throwing the food in the trash bit, I mean you might as well just let the kid have it? I have personally witnessed this many times at an elementary school where I volunteered. I don't think it is the chesse sandwich per se that upsets the kids, it is the way the lunch ladies handle the situation that is upsetting, which is sad.

Also here in Fl, if you owe as little as .40 they take your lunch. This stresses the kids because they are never sure if they will get slammed with the cheese sandwich, since most FL lunches are pre-paid over the internet. And if you happen to forget to load your kids account or lose track of how much they have left in their lunch account- WHAM- cheese sandwich!

I don't have a problem with the cheese sandwich, just the way it is handled.

I agree with you 100%

I like the dishwashing idea. We had something similar in our high school but it wasn't neccessarily a job in the kitchen. I had a friend that worked in the library during study hall....she would help put the returned books back on the shelves and she got free lunch and free breakfast for that. But....with the ever growing sense of entitlement this country has.....that would be considered cruel I'm sure. Make someone work for their food?!?!? GASP!

They are getting fed with cheese sandwiches!!! "Beggars can't be choosers!"

For lunch yesterday, I had two chicken hot dogs, popcorn and plums.

I can buy Zacky Farms hot dogs at the 99cents store. A standard package costs 99 cents.

The bag of 10 plums cost 99cents too.

When my boys were in school, they told me that they preferred a home packed lunch to what was being served at school. I remember when I was in school, I lost weight during the school year because of the lunches were mostly inedible, and I have never been a picky eater and neither have my boys. So if the lunch rooms haven't changed (and from what I hear from the grand kids, whom also are not picky eaters, it hasn't), the kids getting the cheese sandwiches are getting the better deal!

"Maybe these parents should cut back on their drinking budget or cigarette budgets."

This is a terrible stereotype to enforce, and you should be ashamed.

It said in the article that some children are forced to eat these meals while applications are being processed, anyways. Parents are trying, but in overworked and underfunded school districts, getting a free-lunch application through can take quite some time.

And, again, Benzimm66, really... Not everyone who is poor is a trashy alcoholic. I happen to be seventeen years old and my family makes less than $10,000 a year. Yes, we live in a trailer. Yes, we get free lunches at school. But my parents (a disabled father and a mother trying to raise for children while holding down a job) do the best they can. We are honest citizens who coincidentally can't afford much. People that talk like you make me sick- have some humility.

Benzimm86- In many cases you are right, the parents are eating well at lunch, smoking or other things, but please know this is not always the case. There was a time when my son was much younger that we had just enough money to barely scrape by and couldn't afford the school lunches here. I made just above the reduced line as well. Frustrating! However- I made sure that when meals were made (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) my son ate until he was full THEN if we had leftovers I ate. It frustrates me to no end when parents think of themselves!

Poor kids. How dare we 'force' them to eat free food. Don't look the gift horse in the mouth.

Scarlet there is no free ride, if you cant afford to buy a school lunch then bring one from home. Or be happy with a cheese sandwich. All there is too it!

Benzimm86 I am sorry, I have been sitting here trying to think of something nice to say to you but I cannot. You are pathetic and have no understanding of what so many parents are going through. Many are struggling and you can only say that??? Simply pathetic!

These are exactly my sentiments. How many of these parents complaining are able to

afford alcohol and cigarettes. My children took brown bag lunches back in the 60's and

had to eat a lot of bologna sandwiches, but they survived.

How is it there's a stigma attached to eating a cold cheese sandwich but no stigma attached to a properly funded free lunch? I guess I don't see the difference other than the food itself. Free is free.

Benzimm86 - You are getting a little beat up here!! No where did you say that the kids that are receiving cheese sandwiches are from trashy, trailer house livin', poor, etc. families that some of your replies stated. I think what you meant was that if some families cut down on their drinking and smoking habits they could afford the school lunches. I think we all could cut down on our fringe habits of spending.

Sadly, Scarlett, sterotypes exist because someone for whatever reason, noticed the compilation of habits, character (good and bad), and all the associated good or bad that comes with them. To not re-enforce the sterotype is to turn a blind eye to it. Many ills in the world are identified and sometimes even corrected because someone saw a stereotype.

Not all stereotypes are bad. Have you noticed that rich people drive nice cars? That is a stereotype, but you won't find any of them complaining that I made it.

It is only when the stereotypes that we don't like get brought to light that people complain. Because they don't like to be reminded of the bad. That is why stereotype has become a bad word and stereotyping, a bad thing to do.

Example: Men are more likely to be bald. A stereotype that happens to be true. Nice? No. True? Yes. Of course the recognition of this has caused many people to try to find a cure.

I'm happy for your family to not let yourselves fall into the typical failure of 'some' of the less fortunate citizens. Be strong. As a 17 year old girl, you have much time and many opportunities ahead of you, and considering your obvious strength, I'm sure you'll take advantage of them and succeed. True success only comes with honor and honor is earned, never taken.

GL.

Sir, I find this comment realistic. Although there are many people who are temporarily desperate or permanently financially limited there are also plenty of folks who "scam" or choose cigarette habits (4 bucks per pack per day is $1,460 per year). I think people do not realise exactly how much cigarettes cost per year...

I'm curious to see how many of you know someone currently who is on free or reduced lunch. Let me assure you, how schools handle this now is atrocious. As a high school teacher, I have students who would rather starve or exist on something from the vending machine, rather than wait in line to be singled out. Having no pride at all isn't a virtue, as some posters on this board may think.

To Troy: Stereotypes are never good, regardless of how you perceive them. Supposedly, Asians are all smart and good at math. Is that a good thing for the asian kid who is struggling in Algebra? The rich all drive nice cars. Is that a good thing for the AIG folks who took bonuses to keep the cushy lifestyle? Nope.

And as an FYI, before I worked as a teacher, I was in the "private sector". I've seen wealthy, exclusive clubs where you won't find more drunks or layabouts anywhere else. People who don't even know what their kids are up to because they're so self-involved. Does that mean everyone who is wealthy is like that? Not even close. It's a stereotype.

Pattyh,

Our school lets the children choose from two different menu items for lunch.

Twice a week they offer a "Sack lunch" which is a PB&J, fruit, and milk.

My son loves them, so it doesn't bother him on the rare occasions he has to eat a PB&J because his lunch card ran out.

I'm with everyone else on this issue. If you can't afford to buy a school lunch, packing a lunch is cheap. If nothing else, leftovers and Tupperware work wonders.

That's what I grew up on, we called it eating "Musgo", what didn't go yesterday, "Musgo" today.

I honestly think people are just lazy and are working the system.

Being "poor" shouldn't be a stigma. Besides it doesn't take a cheese sandwhich to figure that out. The kids know who is and isn't poor.

If your kids are being fed for free, dont gripe.

That's absolutely correct...kids already know who is poor and who isn't. It doesn't take a cheese sandwich to figure that out. If cheese sandwiches are eliminated to prevent a kid from being embarrassed, there will be something else out there that will embarrass him or her. Life isn't fair and there is nothing that can be done about that.

Parents need to take responsibility for their children and themselves. This country is never going to recover as long as this sense of entitlement is allowed to grow. When parents complain that a free cheese sandwich is not good enough for their children and demand something better that they are not willing to provide themsleves, they are passing the sense of entitlement down to their children.

I think you've come to the root of the problem, it's the sense of entitlement that's the problem.  There is no shame in being poor and needing help, it's the attitude that you are owed something. I had friends on welfare and other helpful programs but they worked to get themselves out of the situation, not worked the program to get what they could.  I am a mother and if I my child was the one receiving the sandwich I would tell them to hold their head up and remember this will pass and to grateful  that we live in a place where we can get help.

I think giving the sandwich, fruit and milk is a good idea however, can they just toast the sandwich.

I think giving the sandwich, fruit and milk is a good idea however, can they just toast the sandwich.

That would be much tastier.

True true, they always say a civilized society is judged on how they treat their most vulnerable citizens- children, poor and elderly.

We must open our hearts and figure out what is really important in our country. Every child should have a warm bed and food to eat. No exceptions!!! This is shameful and could be fixed easily. Our priorities are selfish and reflect poorly on this country. When giving becomes fashionable, then we will be on the right track.

My dogs are dogs. They normally don't eat human food. but I'd agree with you. Also, as a person who suffered intestinal problems until, in my 40s, I discovered Lactaid, and reallized I was lactose intolerant, school lunches are an abomination. After that, we need to address the fact that school restrooms are, too. We need to refurbish this country's school before we even start to work on Iraq's.

What's wrong with a cheese sandwich, fruit, and milk? Sounds very 'French'. Probably very healthy, especially considering the high probability that at home all they eat is candy and junk food.

Hey, want to go on an excursion with me to the 'poor' homes? I bet there is beer in the refrigerator, and cigarette packs in shirt pockets...

right on....

Small Town America, you say that

"For many children in this country, the daily school lunch is the only decent meal they get."

Whos fault is that? There are too many programs out there for a child to go hungry these days. If the school gives them something, that's better than nothing at all.

Why should you be disgusted? The kids are getting a free meal, even if it is a cheese sandwich, which they wouldn't normally be getting. Are the kids going to school without lunch because the parents can't afford it, or because they're still sleeping when the kids go to school and know the school with provide a lunch regardless?

Small Town, humility is for those who beg. Please don't confuse compassion with humility. We have been forced to give the fruits of our labor to any "disadvantaged" soul who demands something for nothing. These people are parasites and would find a way to acheive if they weren't sanctioned by our liberal lawmakers. We taxpayers have footed the bill for too long. Either get by on your own merits or die. We don't owe a thing to anyone just because they express a need. Besides, I contribute to my church and the church is where needy people should get help.

I am so tired of everyone wanting a free ride and then when they are being offered an opportunity they look at it with disgust. What are you the parents teaching these children? I had a single mother growing up and she would make sure we had lunch everyday for school in a brown bag, as we got older and had part-time jobs some of that money would be used to buy lunch at school if I really liked what was on the menu. She never applied for the free meal program because she had pride in herself and would never take a handout. Even as an adult I bring my lunch to work most days because it is healthier than eating out and it is cost effective. What you learn as children becomes a part of how you become as an adult and if these children feel like vomiting everytime they get a free cheese sandwich at school, then how will they behave as adults.

Well put Troy. If someone is so poor they cannot afford to feed their children, I would think they'd be pretty excited about the cheese sandwich meal. If you are truly hungry, are you complaining about a sandwich, fruit and milk???? No, you're wolfing it down-thankful. Complaining? Youve never gone hungry.

When I went to school in the early 60's and 70's there was no program for reduced lunches. My parents both worked and we struggled along. I bagged lucnh (P&J, cookies) and carried my 10 cents for milk. Back then there were few choices to a child that eat the school lunch. P&J, Peanut Butter or Jelly sandwiches. The hot meal of the day was something like pizza made out of burger rolls, or hotdogs and beans. Schools with a high percentage of reduced cost eligle students should reduce the choices on their menus and then the children who must eat the free meals will not stand out.

When did it become the responsibility of the school system to feed the children?

For many children in this country, the daily school lunch is the only decent meal they get. Now they are taking that away from them. What next?

If you are disgusted with anything here, it should be the parents!

Lets address the root cause: Bad Parenting.

So says the pompous, self-righteous, middle/upper-class folks who sit on their computers right now. Clearly, none of you are in that dire of financial straits if you're still able to pay the Internet bill every month. Or, if you don't have Internet at home, you're typing away at work. Pleasant use of your time ...

Pull your heads out of your butts. If a child's family can't afford to pay the bills at home, do you think they're able to pay the bills for the child's lunch? No.

"Probably very healthy, especially considering the high probability that at home all they eat is candy and junk food. Hey, want to go on an excursion with me to the 'poor' homes? I bet there is beer in the refrigerator, and cigarette packs in shirt pockets..."

Troy, you pulled your daughter out of the "unfit" school. You homeschooling that kid or is she "brown bagging" it at some private school? Stop the stereotyping ... you're coming dangerously close to being reported.

There is nothing wrong with a cheese sandwich. It's the demeaning way it's handled. A child should not suffer even more for the family's economic problems. Even if the family is irresponsible, the kids shouldn't be made to suffer. Other kids can be terribly cruel.

There are alternatives. The schools should be looking out for those families that need free or reduced-price lunches, and help them out. It really wouldn't take much effort.

Help them out how? Buy giving them money for lunch? Seems they are helping them out by offering the children food. You are right children can be cruel, but that doesn't offset them getting food in the belly.

Honey -- you are right, it doesn't take much effort -- for the parent to apply for benefits or pack a lunch. Parents need to take some responsibility for the welfare of their children. If a parent does not feed their children they should not be allowed to have children. Economic problems do not stop people from getting free food in this country. At about the age of five I learned how to put together a sack lunch -- it is not very hard. The "efforts" that the school should be concentrating on is teaching so these children in need can be prepared for a job, get out of poverty and maybe learn some parenting skills.

The school do try to help them, but the parents' must fill out the paperwork when it is sent home. If they don't qualify for free lunches, then they usually qualify for reduced. However, if they qualify for niether, then the issue is a matter of budgeting or planning. To be honest, everyone can make an adjustment so their children can eat. Either give them your lunch money or make them a lunch at home as I do.

My family was given the reduced lunch option over ten years ago, when we qualified for free, because my neighbors earned substancialy less than we did. I sent bagged lunches then and now that my husband and I now earn well above the poverty level and I still a send packed lunch with our youngest child. In short I am a parent and I would rather not eat than see my children go without.

A cheese sandwich, fruit, and milk lunch would not be a non-issue if it was done without embarrassing the child. There's certainly an alternative to single them out by pulling them out of line.

I also believe the parents who encourage their children to feel victimized by a cheese sandwich are doing a great disservice to their children and are encouraging an "everybody owes me and I'm not responsible" attitude.

It's true- kids can be cruel if you are poor or different (as I was). However, it's worse to teach a child to expect a free handout when they cannot afford what others have. They will be in for an awful shock when they grow up as try to get it as an adult.

The kids will be fine. If this is the only thing the other kids can find to tease them about, they are lucky, and at least they are being fed good food.

Even "rich" people forget to pay the school lunch tab for a few days and their kids have to eat the "free lunch". So on any given day, a large portion of kids are eating the "free lunch" . I hear about it from my kids - they don't seem terribly embarassed having to eat the "free lunch"- they just want to get the bill paid so they can have more food choices.

First it is probably "American Cheese" which isn't cheese at all and is full of sodium and lacks protein-peanut butter is a better option, but then you have kids with allergies. If they get food at home it is probably high fat & carb cheap foods like pastas, ramen noodles, the $1.00 microwave dinners. These kids may go days without a vegetable or fruit at home if they get any at all. This will cause health problems down the road as kids struggle with diabetes, weight problems and vitamin deficiencies (rickets is already on the rise).

Second, the children are being singled out. I understand that the school system is doing what it can to feed their students and not go bankrupt, but that doesn't make it suck any less for the kids. Yes, the parents might be able to cut out something they buy for themselves, but they aren't or they can't, and that kid is still embarrased. No one posting here seemed to pay much attention to the 7 yr old that said each bite made her want to be sick. Think back to when you were in the 1st or 2nd grade and had feeling like that. My heart goes out to those kids who can't change their circumstances.

It sounds like a policy change needs to be made that allows the federal free lunch funds to go toward an outstanding bill once the child has been approved.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that the 7 year old's aversion is a result of her mother's rightous indignation about the situation. This child is being taught to go through life with her hand out and to lay blame on everyone and everything other than the source. It doesn't take much in the way of resources to produce a bag lunch. My kids eat them every day and believe you me, I'd go without before they would. And finally, there is something about everyone that singles them out and makes them the victim of ridicule, Maybe just maybe we need to stop handing out trophies for showing up and teach our kids to toughen up a little. It doesn't get any easier once you leave school you know.

improvedcharlotte --you are RIGHT ON! When I think back to the crap I went through in school (and dealt with on my own and silently, did NOT run to mom or dad to tattle) and then see what kids today whine about, I get sick.

I worked in a public school for 6 years. Why is everyone on here assuming the "big bad lunch lady" pulled them out of line, threw a sandwich and whatnot at them and in a loud demeaning voice, said "tell your mom to pay her bill!!" In MOST schools, the schedule is so tight that is like a conveyor belt in the cafeteria line. You grab a tray, you get the food you get to the "check out" you either pay or in this case it seems, charge. No one is really paying close attention until they get to the table. Is the solution to put those kids at a "special" table? As IF! That would bring the parents out in droves to complain!!

AND its not like at the start of the day when lunch count is taken (the cafeteria has to know how much of what to cook) teachers, students and the lunch staff don't know who brought their lunch, or money or is going to have to get the cheese sandwich. Its not like it comes as some horrendous surprise once the kid gets to the lunch room. They know when they left the house if mom or dad gave them a sack lunch, money or are going to have to have the free sandwich, if THEIR CHILD is so traumatized then shouldn't it be on the parent to fix the situation?

Just my two cents.

Here is a thought, if the parents are that poor as to not even be able to send a brown bag lunch to school then certainly I would think they would qualify for the (free lunch) program...and in that case they get the same food as the other kids although I am sure they have to give a slip of some sort to the cashier which by the way the other kids would see that and still tease them. If they make to much money to qualify then I would assume they could afford to send a lunch at least. Just my thoughts.

Emily C - people are talking about the "big bad lunch lady" pulling kids out of line because that's what the article said was going on in some cases. Just FYI.

my freind .....look in the mirror and you will see an idiot......your ideas are the problem.....just keep paying for it with your kids and their kids money idiot.

You are way off base.....They are not leting the kids go home hungry. They are getting a sandwich, fruit and milk. Much more than many kids can claim today.

You need to look at yourself in the mirror and get off your high horse

those parents should be put in PRISON for not having food for their children.

to top it off, they are getting food!!! it costs CENTS to feed a kid for a day with a packed lunch. growing up i never had money for school lunch it was too much i always packed a lunch and guess what i was overweight and happy. and it cost very little.

again. the school is feeding these kids for free!!! they are not going hungry! bleeding hearts you are bleeding for nothing. parents you must take care of your kids if you send a child to school with no food you need to be put in prison YOU should starve before your kids do.

you bleeding hearts are evolving backwards. turning into humans that cant survive on their own needing people to spoon feed you. you are the epitome of pathetic.

Ummm... none are going home hungry... They are just not getting the same lunch as others. Same that happened to you as a kid - your mom fed you well but it wasn't free... SDhe paid for that food. So should these folks who want something for nothing.

"Perhaps the parents are out of work and struggling to keep a roof over the heads of the children"

So the school should pay for thier food (more than they already are paying for what they are GIVING them) and keep paying it all year when it is the cost of proably two to three teachers salaries? Then the school will have to make budget cuts (money doesn't grow on trees!) to pay for it which will mean putting other people out of work to pay for the first people's kids lunches. Does that make sense AT ALL? You are basicly saying that because their parents are out of work they should put other people out of work, that quite possibly have children of thier own. Sounds like a GREAT way to end the cycle of poverty to me.....

Your sentiment is understood and I agree.... however, NO ONE can say how pathetic others are, that is just mean spiritied elitist jargin. I say if you would give your last dollar to make sure a child is fed, then do so! There are children that are starving and homeless all over the US! People need to stop living in denial that there are HUGE problems here and kids who can't afford lunch are just the tip of the iceberg!

How much have you given to children in need? If you are going to ridicule people for their opinions, you need to walk your talk!

Rob, you are absolutely correct. Everyone responding here is assuming the parents are living the good life, drinking, smoking, eating their own lunch and ignoring their kids. These are the words of people who have never been in a position where they had to borrow food from a neighbor to even make lunch or dinner, or who have know the sick ashamed feeling you get when you have to, who have absolutely no money until the next payday or welfare check comes in. And they accuse them of not budgeting their money and being frugal. With the way gas, food, and utility prices have risen, suddenly the bills to money ratio is beyond their control. And none of them have probably been that poor kid, or knows what it feels like. The 70% responders here are ignorant fools commenting on a situation of which they have no idea of what it’s like. Believe me, if the shoe were on the other foot the opinions would be different. And you won’t hear that opinion because they don’t have the money for a computer, or an Internet connection, or work at jobs where they can blow off work and respond to surveys on the Internet.

tifa1812.....you know of children starving all over the U.S.

I SAY.....why aren't you doing something about it....if I new of a child starving I would report it and so something about it immediately.....people should be arrested and children rescued.....or are you just another blow hard that says rediculous crap.

Well Rob S, aren't you full of yourself? This is not a problem about children; it is a problem of too many people having too many children without considering the cost of raising a child in today's society -- A lot like too many people buying too much house without considering future budgets.

Why is this country so determined in permitting anyone who wants to to have as many children as they want? This 'freedom' has led to tremendous suffering among children (even the priveledged)and yes it is not their fault it is the parents (as usual) that are the problem . All you have to do is the math. And I bet that 7 year-old who says she'll never eat sliced cheese again would if she ever experienced true hunger. Spoiled child that one!!

I also tend to agree with the comments about the cigarettes and the alcohol. So many parents neglect their children via their addictions, and this is just another way. And duh, we know not all poor families are that way but certainly a significant number of them are. Just look around you! If you want to smoke and drink, please choose NOT to have children, and then you can eat the free cheese sandwich when you end up in jail! Again, do the math.

Well, BeenThatPoorKid, if you think I am part of your 70%, you are sadly mistaken. I was born and grew up in Linefork, Kentucky. Look it up. When you do, IF you do, you'll find that it is the poorest place in the U.S.A. I got my first pair of shoes when I was 5. (1963) I got oranges for Christmas presents. We children fought for the spot near the pot belly stove to stay warm. My Step-Father (my real father left when I was 14 months old) applied for the Free Lunch program for us even though he knew he didn't qualify. (Very irresponsible of him) I stood in the free lunch line. I ate the food. I heard and saw the bullies who, being bullies, act the way they do. America has grown up and away from something that children from that era learned young. That names are just words. They only hurt if you let them. To let a bullies taunts hurt you is to give into weakness and despair. Oh, woe is me. I must be what he is calling me, has become the basis for all our problems. "I was bullied and treated bad, Your Honor. That's why I mugged that old man, raped that girl, robbed that store, stole that car...etc..." Personal responsibility is out the window and leaving the country fast, and sadly enough, many people are behind it giving it a push.

I learned growing up poor because of an irresponsible parent, not to give up my responsibilities and not to stick my hand out unless I had no choice at all.

Yes, some of the children are in households where they have obsolutely no way to pay for lunch. The parent should apply for the free lunch program. Teachers and administrators should open their eyes and look for bullying, then enforce their no-bullying rules that exist at every school. Parents should be frank with their children. "Honey, you know we are poor. We may not always be, but right now we are. Other kids will make fun of you because of this, so you have to be strong and I will help you everytime it happens."

Parents who are not poor should tell their children to not make fun of less well off children. They should enforce and help with that with their kids too.

I like cheese sandwiches, fruit, and milk.

It’s not like the schools aren’t feeding the kids; they are providing a free, health lunch! The kids aren’t starving they are just whining about not getting the pizza.

Criminal to send a child home at night with an empty stomach???? What's wrong with this picure??? What is criminal is that there are parents out there perfectly willing to let schools, taxpayers, etc., feed and care for their own children. Schools are expected now to provide breakfast lunch and dinner and people have the nerve to complain. Parents need to get off the couch and step up. Since when did it become eveybody else's job to raise your kids!

PS: I was poor on welfare and food stamps once too and my kids ALWAYS had three squares.

>> This entire country has become so greedy, just like Obama said -- look in the mirror.

This comment comes from a person complaining about this. The GREED is expecting other people to provide for you. The GREED is complaining about what is GIVEN to you. How do you not understand the school districts are OUT OF MONEY. We need to learn to be thankful for what we receive, not to be GREEDY FOR MORE.

I think my kids have had their share of PB sandwiches to because they dont tell me they need money. I am able to afford the lunch just fine. I just happen to love PB so I dont see the problem. I used to voluntarily eat cold cheese sandwhiches, though, I wuld put some miracle whip on it.

When I was in school, I was always on free or reduced lunches depending on how much my mom was making that year. Thre was never any shame in it for me, I just figered the rest were suckers for paying for that slop.

I had the same thing happen with my 9 year-old. When I realized she didn't have enough  money in her lunch account, she said oh, yeah. I had a cheese sandwich. She didn't seem to think it was a big deal, and nobody picked on her.

As far as kids picking on other kids, that's just life. My daughter gets comments about being a blond Jewish kid, but it is not going to scar her for the rest of her life. What am I as a parent supposed to do, go complain to the school? Most of us got picked on for one reason or another when we were little, I think learning how to deal with it makes us stronger people.

I can raise my own fruit and vegetables

....if you don't live in a condo, townhouse, apartment or place where a building overshadows your yard most of the day. And if you know how to can them.

Community gardens would be a very very good idea for every single American community, especially those where there are poor families.

OMG! I am amazed and saddened by the mean-spirited comments I've read here! Poverty is everywhere! Foreclosures are happening to everyone, not just the poor and "lazy".

I don't give a HOOT about the adults. Their ability to afford to pay is irrelevant in my eyes. We're talking about CHILDREN, and the way a society is - and always will be - judged is by how it treats it's children and it's poor.

The comments in this "blog" show that way too many people disregard the future leaders of this nation, simply by thinking that how these children are treated DOESN'T MATTER.

SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!!

We have the same mind set here in N.E. PA.The local AM radio stations ferment it, and the ditto heads,who never had an original thought in their heads in their lives just parrot it.

What makes you think there is foster care available? Most counties don't have anywhere to place children and the parents have to pay the child's expenses.

Over 100,000 people lost their jobs last month. Has it occured to any of you who are so quick to say the parents are retarded, deadbeats who drink and smoke that perhaps they are people JUST LIKE YOU who went into work last months and got nothing but a pink slip. PB&J in fine when it is what you want, but when getting it is the equivalent of hanging a "I'm poor, make fun of me" sign on your kid, you might think different. I am always amazed by the lack of compassion and high level of sanctimony people have. Are you Republicans?

Thats it!!! You hit the nail right on the head! We're all greedy, selfish, prudish, right wing Republicans!

"They" (we don't name them) indoctrinate us in that selfish lifestyle when we are young. Yep. That's it. You're so smart.

You see, shhh, don't tell anyone, it's a big conspiracy. In order to have the 'system' work, just a little over half of us citizens have to be "Republicans". That way there are always responsible citizens around to pay for all the social programs for the irresponsible citizens.

We ran into an issue in November though. Seems that some of the "Republicans" saw how the other side were always getting free handouts and decided to jump to that side. (I guess the indoctrination didn't stick so well with them...? sigh...)

Now we have more irresponsible citizens than responsible citizens and there isn't enough money to be given away anymore. The scales have tipped. You should be happy.

As a "Liberal" you are getting what you want. The right to stick out that hand and wave it up and down (proudly I would add) and say, "Give me your money!" and "You mean Republicans need to do for me, when I won't do for me!" and "Those mean Republicans want our 'CHILDREN' to starve!!!"

Because, after all, we all know that Republicans don't have children. Nope. Not a one. We are too prudish to have sex, and too selfish to raise children. We are created by indoctrination and laboratory procedures.

Our mantra is "Learn to take care of yourself!" That should be apparent by now, as you are all getting too freaking HEAVY from all the 'free stuff' that we can't keep carrying you anymore. So get off our backs.

Sheesh...

Well said!

I guess I am worse than a Republican because I am a Libertarian...

I guess I will stop seeing patients for free, donating clothing/money to the Abused Women's Shelter, and lobbying my politicians for birth control for those who want to use it.

I do think having a child is a serious decision which people should consider carefully before making. If one cannot fully support the child emotionally and financially one should not have the child.

If there are kids in America that are going hungry, they are doing so at the choice of their parents.

There are programs for impoverished families in every state. We have welfare, food stamps, food banks, homeless shelters, and free hot lunch programs in school.

If the root cause is examined, it comes back to the responsibility of the parents.

If you got laid off and cant afford to feed your children then what the frig does it matter if thats what your child WANTS to eat or not?! If you cant stand up to your children and say "Im so sorry honey but this week you are going to have to eat PB&J sandwhiches because I cant afford to give you money for lunch" then YOU are the one with an issue.

Im not getting into this any farther because I dont know the circumstances of the parents in NM and this article doesnt tell you that. I am not going to ASSUME like some of you are. I will however say this...no child should be treated differently because they cant afford to eat a greasy slice of pizza rather than a healthy cheese sandwich. Lunch ladies should not be treating children differently because of this either, if they are, maybe you should have a talk with the principal? If that lunch lady cares about her job then she will shape up and hopefully change her attitude towards the children.

I feel for any parent who cannot afford to feed their child. I can barely afford to feed myself, this is why I have no children of my own. It would break my heart to not be able to provide for my child. I am also fully aware of the fact that this will happen more often due to the economy these days. I would hope these parents have filled out the paperwork for the free or reduced lunches, I would also hope the parents are attempting to give their children bagged lunches if they cant afford to give them $$ and I hope they are feeding their kids before they feed themselves.

Part of my above comment is missing...

Plurabelle - How can you say PB&J is fine when its what you WANT?! If you are that poor or broke then why does it matter what your child WANTS to eat?

I want to be your child, Ill be asking for steaks and crab legs every night for dinner. MMMMM