I have a secret weapon in the war on juvenile picky eating: “doup.” Baby Gwen’s list of sanctioned edibles includes chickpeas, carrots, onions, peas, collard greens, kale, spinach, mushrooms, barley, rice, lentils, squash, potato, sweet potato, tomato and even rutabaga. There is only one caveat: these health-enhancing morsels must be consumed in soup form. Outside of the world of broth, none may even go near her pink-and-white toddler bowl with spill catcher lest they become airborne and wind up splattered like roadkill across the linoleum tiles.
Amid the notices of fundraisers and homework assignments, I found the blue form in my daughter’s Minnie Mouse backpack. It was a three-page application — covered in tiny print — for free or reduced-cost school lunches.
Without hesitation, I tossed it.
It’s not that I am opposed to subsidized school lunches. In fact, I think children having access to healthy foods should be a protected right, regardless of which parents they have chosen.
But what I see at the school cafeteria does not reflect the richness and abundance of nature. More often, menu items are what Michael Pollan calls “edible foodlike substances,” loaded with chemicals, high-fructose corn syrup and sodium. In other words, far from the best we can do for our children.
The Austin Frugal Foodie Nicole Ray tipped me off that on Labor Day, Slow Food USA is holding a day of action to get Congress to mandate that only real food be allowed in school lunches. Across the country people will be gathering for potluck “eat-ins.” Locally, Slow Food Austin is hosting one at Rain Lily Farm from 11-12:30 p.m. For more information, call 512-964-6514.
