Eagle Pointe fifth grader invites Rep. Cross to school lunch

According to Plainfield CCSD 202 Press Release:

January 22, 2010                                                           

Plainfield- State Representative Tom Cross blended in with the crowd of fifth graders in the cafeteria at Eagle Pointe Elementary School as he ate a taco salad and talked to them about local government and their favorite sports teams. 

Eagle Pointe fifth grader Dylan Diorio wrote a letter inviting Cross to lunch, to discuss the nutritional value of the hot lunch choices after his class read the article, “A Fresh Look at Lunch,” in the “Time For Kids” magazine.

The article focused on a study conducted by the School Nutrition Association that revealed most schools in the United States cook less than half of the main courses they provide for students from scratch.  

The article also said many of the meals are prepackaged and frozen, and Congress is going to examine, “The Child Nutrition Act,” which has just expired. 

After reading the article, the fifth graders discussed how the school lunches provided by District 202 are already very healthy. They also talked about how fresh fruits and vegetables are already offered daily, and how the lunches are nutritionally balanced.  

The students, however, would still like to see some changes, like fresh cut fruit offered every day, and are primarily concerned with the nutritional value of the main courses. 

The article suggested taking steps like connecting with local farmers to provide fresher lunches, and writing letters to local legislators. 

Diorio wrote a letter to Cross, and on Thursday, January 21, 2010, Cross sat down with the students to discuss what changes they would like to see happen. 

“We are ultimately hoping Representative Cross will keep our ideas in mind if he comes across or is a part of any school nutrition changes made by the state,” Eagle Pointe fifth grade teacher Dr. Kathleen Heinrich said. 

The students told Cross they would like for lunches to not be frozen and for fruit to be fresh and not served in syrup. 

“We have to think about the money in all of this,” Cross reminded the students.  “It is often difficult to balance fresh and organic and locally grown food with the need to feed 30,000 kids.” 

Cross pointed out that his taco salad was very good and that he also saw healthy options like celery, milk and applesauce offered at lunch. 

“Maybe I would have liked a little more tomato on my salad, and maybe some fresh avocado, but not everyone likes those things, so if they were added, would that be wasting money?” Cross challenged the class. 

The students asked Cross what hot lunches were like when he was their age. 

“When I went to school, we had to kill our lunches,” Cross said laughing.  “No, but seriously, in grade school I went home for lunch, and then came back to school.  We had hot lunch, but it was never fresh.” 

Today’s hot lunches may not be as healthy as they could be, but we are moving in the right direction, Cross said. 

Heinrich’s class is the only one to contact Cross on the issue.  To bring more awareness, Cross told them he will create a resolution that will be read on the floor of the state House of Representatives, encouraging and promoting fresh lunches in Illinois. 

“I am hoping that Dylan’s reaching out to Representative Cross shows students that they do have a voice that is valued and heard,” Heinrich said.  “Students can indeed play an active role in their government and work to seek positive change.”