School Lunch vs. Home Lunch

Recently, my attention was drawn to this article about prohibiting student's from bringing a lunch from home to school.  The school, located in Chicago, does not allow students to bring their own lunches from home unless it is medically necessary (read: allergies).  The reasoning behind this is that the school lunch is more nutritious that what students bring from home.

I am outraged by this!  I am appauled on a weekly basis by what some of my students bring for lunch when it comes from home, but on the other hand I also recognize that generally parents have the best of intentions to feed their child well.  I have spent countless lessons discussing the importance of making healthy choices, explaining the need to temper sweets with fruits and vegetables, and helping kids identify what a balanced meal looks like. 

I am passionate about eating good food (otherwise why would I bother with a blog on the topic??), but I don't think it is the school's place to dictate what a child may or may not eat for lunch.  Will some children bring ding-dongs and chips?  Of course!  That might be a good time to call the family and mention that it did not keep the child full all afternoon and to please consider sending some fruit and protein with the chips and dessert.  I would be willing to bet they will at least humor you or perhaps they've never seen what their child packs for lunch.  It's worth a phone call.

I don't feel like my child needs to have a wheat allergy for me to be allowed to send him a lunch with food I prepare.  We eat a large amount of organic food, we do not eat processed food, I make our granola and baked goods, and I am not impressed by the mass produced foods reheated in the ovens at schools.  The texture and flavor of the foods is often over-cooked, not a good example of what proper food tastes like.  That doesn't mean it shouldn't be eaten, just that I should be able to provide higher quality food if I prefer.

It is also mentioned in the article that parents feel they can create a quality, balanced lunch, for a cheaper price that the $2.25 the school lunch costs.  I agree with this point.  I am certain I could create a balanced meal for less than this cost.  A turkey sandwich wrapped in a tortilla with lettuce served with a cheese stick, carrot sticks and a juice box costs less and is perfectly healthy.  If I know my child will eat this then I would prefer to send this with that and know they'll eat it than purchase a lunch they'll throw away.

What are your thoughts on schools prohibiting home lunches?