Losing out on lunch

Greasy pizza, limp green beans, mini cartons of milk that had lingered questionably long in the refrigerated cart... I don't remember school lunches being anything to rave about. I send my son to school with a packed lunch so I can be sure what my son is putting in his mouth. But honestly, the school lunch program in my community is very inexpensive. So much so, that I'm possibly spending more on the packed lunches. And, for families that qualify, there is a reduced cost breakfast and lunch program at the school.

According to this article, many students opt to not eat anything than to take a reduced cost meal. Having to stand in line and state that you need a reduced cost lunch causes embarrassment that some kids don't want to deal with. In some school districts, the reduced cost lunches even come off of a different menu. If schools offer a la carte items -- snacks, fruits, and other individual options -- students who are on the federally subsidized program are automatically differentiated. Unless they have their own cash, they're not eligible for any a la carte items.

Some schools are introducing different lines and/or different paying methods (lunch cards, etc) that will help minimize or eliminate the worry of embarrassment for kids on the reduced fee lunch program.