Cheese Sandwiches For Students Who Have No Lunch Money
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
February 26, 2009 2:21pm CST
I was just reading today that in Albuquerque, New Mexico they have just established a policy that a cold cheese sandwich, fruit and a milk carton will be the lunch for students there who are without their lunch money. With mounting unpaid lunch charges in the current economic downturn, Albuquerque Public Schools last month instituted a "cheese sandwich policy," which means serving these alternative "cheese sandwich meals" to children whose parents are supposed to be able to pay for some or all of their regular meals but fail to pick up the tab.
This is nothing new. This has been the policy for my children at their school for the past 5 years. If my children did not have enough lunch money that day then I would get a note home that they got a cold cheese sandwich and indicating that I had a balance due, etc. and that they were not allowed to charge anything further. The cheese sandwich also was the same price as a regular lunch.
They are now reporting that these cheese sandwich policies have become a necessity for schools seeking to keep budgets in the black while ensuring children don't go hungry. Albuquerque Public Schools students receive a cheese sandwich in lieu of a hot meal if they have exceeded a set amount of meals charged to their account, ranging from two at high schools to 10 at elementary schools.
Some critics are now arguing that the cold meals are a form of punishment for children whose parents can't afford to pay. Some Albuquerque parents have tearfully pleaded with school board members to stop this policy and singling out their children because they're poor. Some districts, she noted, don't allow children without money to eat anything.
One mother in a news article I was reading said there are days that she can't spare lunch money for her children. I know that we are living on a tight budget but I always make sure that my children have lunch money or that I pack them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I never let my kids go hungry at school or ever. I will give up eating so my kids can eat.
How about you? Have you heard of this new policy? Would you let your kids eat a cheese sandwich because you can't send lunch money? Or would you pack them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? What do you think of this policy?
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
9 people like this
24 responses
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Yes I saw this story too and I vaguely remember this policy being in effect for my children as well. Well, I guess that a cheese sandwich is better than eating nothing.
And yes, I would always make sure that my kids had something to eat for lunch. I can't believe a parent would send their kid to school knowing that there was no money in their account and that the child had no food to take with them.
@sciencechick (4)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I feel that this could be humiliating for the students who begin receiving the cheese sandwiches. This lunch singles out poor students, clearly marking them to their peers. It is an unfair policy to the children.
Why doesn't the school have a regular free lunch program for impoverished students? Most schools in cities have these, and there is no need to give the students a different, less nutritious meal because they are disadvantaged.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160697)
• United States
8 Apr 09
It sounds to me as if these are students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunches. This cheese sandwich based meal is healthier than some things that are served at school.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I think it's great that the kids get something to eat. When I was their age and didn't have lunch money, I had no lunch. Period. Most kids packed their lunch, only the "rich" ones bought them.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
10 Mar 09
Yes, that is true. If I didn't have lunch money or a lunch with me then I didn't eat that day. Sometimes that was true for me and I would just go and sit in the library and would do my homework.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
1 person likes this
@kezabelle (2974)
•
26 Feb 09
I dont really see the problem, if they can not afford to pay for a hot meal then they should send something in which would only be a cold sanwich anyway so whats the problem!
A cheese sandwich milk and fruit is a perfectly good meal for ANYONE and if the parents are that worried their child is being singled out when then they need to realise that its their own fault for not paying for their childs meals!
2 people like this
@prinzess1515 (1341)
• United States
27 Feb 09
8.99 for cheese? I have never heard of such thing.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167017)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Feb 09
I think this is a great policy. To heck with what the others think. Children are being fed and isn't the bottom line here? Too much brain work and anything can look very bad or vise versa. It takes a village ya know and those that thought up the program to begin with should be commended. Be thankful there is a program in place and let the critiques go eat a cheese sandwich.
2 people like this
@miccant (154)
• United States
26 Feb 09
The school where my son goes does the same thing. The difference is that the kids have a choice of peanut butter or cheese. I will admit there are times that I forget to replenish his lunch account so he has had to have one of these sandwiches. The lunch lady sends home a note and then I replinish his account. If I knew that I would not be able to afford his lunch then I would send him to school with a packed lunch. No child should ever go with out eating for any reason. Have a great day.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
10 Mar 09
Yes, I agree. Children should never go without eating. I get the note home too when I have miscaclulated. Usually the just send home an I.O.U. with the amount that was charged and then I pay that amount plus $20 or $30 more for their accounts.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
27 Feb 09
well it is bread and a milk product! but to charge the same price as a hot meal is sort of silly!.
who are they charginfg for it.
I got people on me for sending my kid a bolony sandwich to school . really was to eat it on the way to school for I had his lunchs paid for but he saved it for lunch he was running late that day! hmmmmmmmmm
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
26 Feb 09
This is an excellent discussion. I certainly don't think they should be charging the same price for a cheese sandwich lunch as a hot lunch. I think most people can afford to give their children a sandwich, fruit cup, and carrot sticks for lunch. Even people on food stamps can do this. You learn not to buy the most expensive of everything. It can be done. No excuses. What is the point? If they give your child a cheese sandwich lunch which will cost the same as a hot lunch, you might as well just make your child a lunch to take which is probably cheaper than a hot lunch at school. Why put your child through that embarrassment for nothing? With a little planning it can be done. We never had this situation when I was in school. We had the free lunch program but nothing like this. And I still don't think they needed that, either. I ate cheese sandwiches that I made and survived and that was not as tasty as the hot meals some of the other kids got for free.
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
10 Mar 09
Yes, I agree with you on this. It should not be the same price for a cheese sandwich that it is for a hot lunch. And I think it is probably slightly cheaper to send in a lunch than to pay for one from school. I pay $1.90 for each of my 3 younger children per day for them for their school lunches. So there is $5.70 for them each day. Then my oldest son likes to get stuff from the vending machine for lunch and I think he spends about $2.00 - $3.00 per day with that.
It does add up no matter how you do it. Whether you pack a lunch or you buy the school lunch it still does add up.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
2 people like this
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
27 Feb 09
At my daughter's middle school, they give cold cereal and milk for those in need of a free lunch. The cheese sandwich sounds better! It is sad that so many families are finding themselves in dire situations and unable to afford school lunch for their children. Even though, at least at my daughter's school the paid lunches are pretty yucky. She loads up on breakfast and buys a cookie with gatoreade or a small salad instead of buying the regular lunch.
2 people like this
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I don't think a child should go hungry, but I'm not sure giving children a cheese sandwich is a good idea. Other children pick up on these things and they would know right away that the child could not pay for their lunch. Kids being kids, inevitably the child that got the cheese sandwich would be teased by the other children. I realize that parents sometimes forget to send lunch money, but there should be another way to handle a situation like this. If as a parent I knew I couldn't afford a lunch ticket, I would most certainly send a lunch with the child. Best wishes!
1 person likes this
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
27 Feb 09
If I do not have money then I would definately send her without lunch and in case I have enough then I might pack somthing or the other for my kid so that she can have a combination of both the meals to fill her stomach.
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
8 Apr 09
I think it is a good policy as many people will not pay for there kids meals at school. I paid for my son and as a single Momit wasn't easy. But I did it. right up until He took lunch from home. As he didn't like the food at school and wanted sandwiches. I live in a poor area and I see all the name brand clothes and shoes and the nice things they could live without. But instead they make there kids go with out lunch hot or cold. But the kids have to have $150.00 dollar shoes. so yes I agree with the policy a cold lunch is fine that is what I have everyday at work when not laid off. YOu have a goodday. Sorry was ranting. Your friend onlydia
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
27 Feb 09
What's sad about this is the fact that the cheese sandwich, fruit and milk is probably more nutritious than what is being served for the regular lunches. Has anyone actually paid attention to what is being served? At my step daughter's school it seems that everything is fried and over-salted. There is a salad bar, but it's usually gone before she has her lunch period (it should tell you something when the salad bar runs out before the french fries).
When I was in school, 30+ years ago, cheese or peanut butter sandwiches were available for anyone who wanted them. It could be some one who didn't have lunch money, or perhaps some one who was still hungry after eating their regular meal.
When my folks gave me my weekly lunch money, I usually spent it on books and ate the PB sandwiches...lol.
The way luches are paid now, with money going in advance to a 'lunch account', it's easy to overlook or not be aware of when it is running out. I can certainly see a problem for the school in the recordkeeping, and collection after the fact. My step daughter's lunch account kept running out early. It turned out that she was buying ice cream (extra charge) every day for herself and a couple of girlfriends. When the student's lunch is cashed out, they should be told when the account balance is low, or used up. If parents had email accounts, it would be simple to send email reminders, or even have the ability to pay online. If the student and parents know the account is out of money, they can pay up, bring a lunch from home, or opt for the cheese sandwich lunch. There are always choices, it's only unkind to surprise an unsuspecting child at the checkout and tell them they can't eat the hot food.
There is also no need to 'single out the poor'. Families who have experienced changed in their income should not be embarassed to apply for the free/reduced lunches. The downturn in the economy has affected many families, some are in positions they never thought they would be in. I should know...we're one of them.
2 people like this
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
27 Feb 09
I think that would be okey if the children are used of eating cold meals however if the children are used to eat hot meals at lunch time, I think the parents can pack a lunch for them as long as the schools allowed it. Even adults want hot meal for lunch how much more the children. What we have here in the Philippines before is a heavy flour nutritious bread (Nutri-bun) and sold to students for a very low charge of 1 peso during their recess as an aid for children who don't have extra money for snacks however if still they don't have money for lunch, it's the duty of the parents to have their lunch packed or bring them food at the school. What we have at the canteen of the schools now are variety of student meals. The student can choose a meal they can afford. If their money can be just good for sandwich then they can have it. For us, there should be no policy of just one meal especially cold meal, there should be a choice of an affordable hot meal or cold meal. Poor parents are not always poor. Today they may not have money but tomorrow they may have a little and next week they may have enough. If that's their policy however, poor parents can't do anything but to follow for the meantime but try to do their best to earn for their children.
1 person likes this
@ambkeb (782)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I grew up going to a school that offered "free" lunches. You got these if your family qualified...meaning that they couldn't go over making a set dollar amount a year. I always got those so I never worried about lunch.
They didn't do the cheese sandwiches...just gave the student the regular lunch. Im not sure what happened if the parents never paid. But I don't ever remember anyone getting anything different to eat then everyone else.
I do agree however...that if you can't afford to send money with your kids for the school lunch...make them something at home and send it with them.
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
27 Feb 09
My kids do cold lunch everyday as the hot lunch prices are tooo much when you got two kids in school. The school knows me well as i have volunteered many hours at the school so if my kids forget there lunch they will serve them hot lunch. I will get a notice sometimes and other times a teacher will charge it to there account which is always nice of them.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I have a 9th grader. I can count on one hand how many times she has had the schools food. I have always packed her lunch. The parents that tearfully said they could not afford lunches, does their state not have a free lunch program. I think that this is people expecting the school to raise their kids. I think that it is awfully kind of the school to give them this much. I know there are kids at my school who will show up with a small bag of chips for lunch if anything. The kids all pool their food to make sure that each other have eaten.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
27 Feb 09
At the school my son just moved from it was a peanut butter sandwich instead of a cheese sandwich. I know some of the kids or parents are maybe embarrassed to be getting a lunch that is obviously different from all the others, but it is better than them not eating at all.
1 person likes this
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
27 Feb 09
i would rather make sure that my son has packed food than eating the cheese sandwich. kids should not be blamed because their parents cant not or has a large balanced account that needs to get paid. i mean it is humiliation for the child. once his piers saw him eating the cold cheese sandwich that can be a start of teasing at school. some kids are cruel too that tease a lot. that is schools regulation then fine i understand that.... but i would rather pack food for my child than to let him eat that cold sandwich. yes i agree with you that i would rather not eat just to save up for my childs food.
