Legislation meant to get more nutritious food into schools may not be making the grade.
Local school leaders shared their concerns with U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in Slatington, Lehigh County, on Monday.
It's been five years since the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act was put into place. Although its guidelines focus on feeding kids the best food possible, school officials said the act needs to be improved because kids are throwing out their lunches instead of eating them.
"In many school districts around the country, not just here in the Lehigh Valley, but all over the United States, many students are throwing away food," said Dent, a Republican who represents parts of Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
"This child is throwing their food out and then possibly going to bed hungry," said Sue Bahnick, food service director, Northern Lehigh School District.
Her main concern is the requirements of the act enforced on a federal level. For example, the school must follow specific sodium regulations and subgroups on vegetables.
Another problem, Bahnick said, is that USDA dietary guidelines suggest schools incorporate about 50 to 51 percent of whole grains, but the government requires kids to have 100 percent whole grain foods.
"We certainly can sell some of the whole grains to the kids. They like some of it, but 100 percent is just not working," Bahnick said.
When kids throw away their food or bring their lunches instead of buying, it's a financial strain on school districts, she said.
Bahnick said she wants Dent to take ideas talked about locally back to Washington.
"I believe there is a compromise out there, and I believe we can work together to make a compromise so it can be a successful program," Dent said.
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