Teen athletes complain about school lunches

Monday, November 19, 2012

St. JOSEPH (AP) — The new lighter lunches that public schools are now required to provide have left some athletes in St. Joseph wanting more.

The Healthy Hunger-Free Act of 2010, which was implemented in school lunches this year, allows high school students between 750 to 850 calories in the lunch program. Many student athletes at St. Joseph’s Central High School have been complaining that the lunches aren’t enough, The St. Joseph News-Press reports.

“The portions have been cut down, and we’re just not getting as much,” said Daven Tomlinson, a linebacker on Central High School’s football team.

Christian Tremain, a cornerback and wide receiver for the Indians, said some days he can’t get through the practice with the lighter lunches.

“I’m not getting any energy at all,” he said.

Robin Rhodes, director of nutrition for the St. Joseph School District, that for some students, the portions are too small.

“Especially when you’re talking some of those kids who might be weighing 225 pounds and they’re 6-foot-3,” Rhodes said. “Just by virtue of their size, their caloric intake might be greater. But then add to it their athleticism and the burning of the calories every day ... yeah that’s probably true.”

But Rhodes said there is not much the district can do about the changes. And next year, the program also will limit the number of calories in school breakfast to a maximum of 600 per meal. Rhodes suggests students try taking an apple from the lunchroom with them to tide them over through practice.

“This is out of the federal laws from the USDA and it affects every school district in the country that accepts the moneys and reimbursements under the national school lunch program,” Rhodes said. “To get the money, we have to adhere to them. If we fail to adhere, we would lose the program and lose the reimbursements.”

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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com

More like this story

newone 7 months ago

If it is not enough, bring your own!!

GrumpyGus 7 months ago

Time to cut out the sports programs. The bigger athletic kids are too unhealthy if they are eating more than 800 calories for lunch. I know this because Michelle Obama said so. Everyone must conform and have the same outcomes or it is not fair.

dokeus6 7 months ago

Why is making a lunch that is healthy and not loaded down with calories such a hard concept to understand? Oh I know it wasn't thought up by a republican. Teaching health in high school could have a direct correlation on how much our society would benefit from the overall health effects learned by the kids. Maybe they could replace a boring social studies class that none of the kids pay attention to anyway.

spelchek 7 months ago

Michael Phelps consumed 12,000 calories a day. You apparently don't understand metabolism.

dokeus6 7 months ago

Michael Phelps is a world class athlete and your comparing them to a typical high school athlete is asinine. I completely understand about metabolism. I have a metabolic disorder. Like you said before don't assume you know anything about me. It's my fault for not explaining myself clearly enough. I have to be careful not too use to big of words on here so people who don't have the knowledge will understand.
The schools are providing a 800 calorie lunch based on the average student. Unless these kids in school have a college class or they are avid health nuts, they don't understand the basics of nutrition thus the reason I suggested a health class for the students. Maybe they will understand their bodies and how to fuel them properly so they can deal with the demands of stress that their bodies under go everyday by people who constantly complain and moan about what happens in society. I'm sorry I didn't spell that out clearly in my first post. I forget there are narrow minds on this site.

spelchek 7 months ago

"Why is making a lunch that is healthy and not loaded down with calories such a hard concept to understand?" ... is the narrow minded question you asked. HS athletes need up to 3,000 calories a day (which they used to get before Republicans never thought of this law as you mentioned). Narrow minds indeed.

spelchek 7 months ago

Perhaps a Twinkie before practice....oh wait......

connor 7 months ago

I hear it's gonna be a Mexican Twinkie now. Hey maybe I will become a democrat and uunion supporter I see their evil plan now. Move all the jobs to Mexico and the Hispanic immigrants will follow.

newone 7 months ago

You mean do the same thing that Romney ( A Republican) did when he worked for Bain & Company?

connor 7 months ago

Ya Staples went under didn't it? Oh wait.

spelchek 7 months ago

Republican of Massachusetts I might add. I also might add that the wizard of Bain also created a health care system in his state that Mr. Obama bragged about creating his after. Nothing weird about that.

mmhh 7 months ago

I also agree that this is all nonsense! These kids who are complaining are probably doing what I did through most of high school: skipping breakfast because I wanted to sleep in until the last moment. They are welcome to make themselves a 10,000 calorie breakfast AT HOME! 800 calories is plenty for a meal. We are not talking about Michael Phelps-someone who excercises 4+ hours/day. We are talking about athletes that sit for 8 hours listening to teachers and then practice several days/week. Tell them to eat a healthy, full breakfast and pack a snack. And be grateful for the healthy meal they are given compliments of my tax dollars.

spelchek 7 months ago

Not all kids sleep in like you state. Many in band and sports show up for school hours before school starts and after school ends. I understand the concept of supplementing your caloric intake on your own dime. My point with Phelps is a one size fits all diet does not fit all sizes. Libs are very big promoters of the word "disenfranchise", and that's exactly what they're doing to the kids that are healthy and active rather than the ones who are obese which this feel good law is designed. Take a look at what's available via food stamps and then tell me government isn't enabling the obesity epidemic compliments of your tax dollars.

jcguy25 7 months ago

So you think that school administrators should stand in the lunch line making a decision, yes you're an athlete so you can have extra or no, you're obese you may not? The schools need to provide a healthy lunch based on the average student needs, anything extra that is required for athletes they can bring their own. The athletes at my son's school bring protein bars and such for afternoon snacks before practice.

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